Capillary glucose monitoring is being performed every 4 hours for a client diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis. Insulin is administered using a scale of regular insulin according to glucose results. At 2 p.m., the client has a capillary glucose level of 250 mg/dl for which he receives 8 U of regular insulin. Nurse Mariner should expect the dose’s:
A. Onset to be at 2 p.m. and its peak to be at 3 p.m.
B. Onset to be at 2:15 p.m. and its peak to be at 3 p.m.
C. Onset to be at 2:30 p.m. and its peak to be at 4 p.m.
D. Onset to be at 4 p.m. and its peak to be at 6 p.m.
Correct Answer: C. Onset to be at 2:30 p.m. and its peak to be at 4 p.m.
Regular insulin, which is a short-acting insulin, has an onset of 15 to 30 minutes and a peak of 2 to 4 hours. Because the nurse gave the insulin at 2 p.m., the expected onset would be from 2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the peak from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Option A: 2 p.m. is when the insulin was given; onset does not occur at the same time as the medication was given
Option B: The peak starts 2 to 4 hours after the insulin was given, which will be at 4 p.m.
Option D: Onset of 4 p.m. is very late; 15 to 30 minutes is the expected onset of insulin. Peak shoud start at 4 p.m.