What is the most important action for the nurse to perform before administering a premeal short-acting insulin to a patient with type 1 diabetes?

Question

a. Looking up the time the long-acting insulin was administered
b. Assessing the body area in which the last insulin dose was injected
c. Checking whether the patient's meal or snack is already on the unit
d. Holding the dose if the patient's blood glucose level is under 110 mg/dL

Answer 1

C
The most critical adverse reaction of any insulin, especially short-acting insulin, is hypoglycemia. The patient should eat a meal or snack within 15 minutes of the insulin injection. To prevent hypoglycemia, it is best not to give insulin until food is actually on the unit and available to the patient. A delay in eating could result in severe injury. The purpose of a premeal injection of short-acting insulin is to make sure the next blood glucose measurement is normal. Therefore, even if the patient's blood glucose level is under 110 mg/dL, the premeal dose is still given.