The patient received Humalog (rapid acting) insulin 5 units subcutaneously at 8:00 AM. The nurse plans to monitor this patient for signs of hypoglycemia at which time related to the insulin’s peak action?
A.
1:00 PM
B.
8:00 PM
C.
There is no peak action for this insulin
D.
9:00 AM
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is D. 9:00 AM.
Explanation:
Humalog (insulin lispro) is a rapid-acting insulin with a quick onset and a relatively short duration of action. Typically, Humalog starts working within 15 minutes after injection, reaches its peak effect in about 1 to 2 hours, and has a total duration of action of about 3 to 5 hours.
Given that the patient received Humalog at 8:00 AM, the nurse should monitor for signs of hypoglycemia around the time when the insulin is at its peak action. Humalog’s peak action usually occurs between 1 to 2 hours post-injection, which means the peak time for the 5 units administered at 8:00 AM would be approximately 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Hypoglycemia can occur when blood glucose levels drop too low due to the insulin’s effect. Monitoring for hypoglycemia during this peak period is crucial because it is when the insulin’s action is strongest and the risk of low blood sugar is highest.
It is also important for the nurse to be aware of other times to monitor glucose levels based on the overall insulin regimen, meals, and patient-specific factors, but for immediate post-administration concerns, the 1 to 2-hour window post-injection is where the peak hypoglycemic risk is greatest.