Comprehensive Insulin Drug Analysis Assignment for Nursing Students

This assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of eight different insulin drugs commonly used in nursing practice. Each drug entry includes the generic name, classification, action, uses, contraindications, adverse effects, and nursing implications. The analysis covers a range of insulin types, including regular insulin, Lispro, NPH, Humulin, Lantus, and Levemir, detailing their normal dosages, routes of administration, peak times, and durations of action. Nursing implications and considerations are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of monitoring for adverse symptoms, toxicity, and overdose. Patient and family teaching points are also included, covering drug administration techniques, medication regimens, and dietary requirements. The assignment aims to provide a thorough understanding of these essential medications for effective diabetes management in a clinical setting.

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1NURSING
1.
Name of drug: Insulin regular
Dosage and route: Same as that of HumuLIN R
Route: Subcutaneous and regular Insulin IV
Peak: Regular Insulin IV-15-30 min
Regular Insulin subcutaneous- 2-4 hrs
Duration:
Regular Insulin IV: 30-60 min
Regular Insulin subcutaneous- 5-7 hrs
Generic name: HumuLinR
Classification: Antidiabetic
Action: stimulate glucose uptake in skeletal muscles and fat
Uses: lowering blood glucose level
Contraindications: Hypoglycemia and allergy
Adverse effects: Same as other drug like hypoglycemia and pruritis
Nursing implications/considerations: Consideration for adverse symptoms, toxicity and
overdose
Patient/family teaching:

2NURSING
Instruction to patient about drug administration, medication regimen, testing and
medicine regimen and diet requirements.
2.
Name of drug: Lispro
Normal dosage and route: 10 ml vials, 3mL prefilled pens, 3 mL cartrideges and intravenous
route
Route: Subcutaneous injection, continuous subcutaneous infusion pump and intravenous route
Peak: 30 to 90 minutes for rapid acting and 2-4 hours for short acting Lispro
Duration: Less than five hours
Generic name: Humalog
Classification: Insulin analogs
Action: Regulation of glucose metabolism and inhibition of hepatic glucose production
Uses:Used to achieve glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus
Contraindications: Hyperglycemia, hypokalemia and renal impairment
Adverse effects: hypoglycemia, allergic reaction, injection site reactions, pruritus and rashes
Nursing implications/considerations:
Assess for symptoms of hypoglycemia
Administration of Lispro 15 minutes before a meal

3NURSING
Avoid administering solution that is cloudy and thickened in appearance
Patient/family teaching:
Instruction patient on relevant method for administration
Demonstrate way to mix insulins
Advice regarding complying with nutritional guidelines
3.
Name of drug: HumuLIN R
Normal dosage and route: Dosage dependent on blood glucose level of patients and more than
200units/day
Route: Subcutaneous and IV
Peak: Regular Insulin IV-15-30 min
Regular Insulin subcutaneous- 2-4 hrs
Duration:
Regular Insulin IV: 30-60 min
Regular Insulin subcutaneous- 5-7 hrs
Generic name: Insulin
Classification: antidiabetics, pancreatics

4NURSING
Action: Stimulates glucose uptake in skeletal muscles and inhibit hepatic glucose production to
lower blood glucose level.
Uses: Treatment of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients
Contraindications: Hypoglycemia, allergy to specific type of insulin or preservatives
Adverse effects: Hypoglycemia and local side effects of pruritus, eryhtema, lipodystrophy
and allergic reactions
Nursing implications/considerations:
Assess patients for symptoms of hypoglycemia
Need to monitor body weight as changes in weight may require change in insulin dose
Need to manage toxicity and overdose
Patient/family teaching:
Instruct patient on technique of administration
Advise patient regarding proper testing for serum glucose and ketones and notifying health care
professionals for taking any other drugs other than insulin
Advise patient to inform about symptoms of nausea, fever or vomiting
4.
Name of drug: NPH

5NURSING
Normal dosage and route: subcutaneous, dosage depends on blood glucose and many other
factors
Route: NPH subcutaneous and 70NPH/30% regular insulin mixture
Peak:
NPH subcutaneous- 4-10 hour
70NPH/30% regular insulin mixture- 2-12 hour
Duration:
NPH subcutaneous- 10-16 hour
70NPH/30% regular insulin mixture- 24 hour
Generic name: HumuLINN, NovoLINN
Classification: Isophane insulin suspension
Action: It lowers blood glucose level by promoting glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and
preventing hepatic glucose production. Other functions include protein synthesis and inhibition
of lipolysis.
Uses: Used in combination with diet and exercise program to control blood sugar in people with
diabetes
Contraindications: Allergy to insulin, additives and preservatives and hypoglycemia, kidney
disease and liver problems.
Adverse effects: anaphylaxis, erythema, swelling and hypoglycemia

6NURSING
Drug to drug interaction also takes place
Nursing implications/considerations:
Monitor and control body weight of patients and adjust dose accordingly
Control and monitor for toxicity and overdose
Assess for symptom of hypoglycemia by looking for symptoms of unrest, anxiety, cold sweating,
drowsiness and headache
Patient/family teaching:
Advise patient to notify when developing fever or nausea after injecting the drug
Encourage regular follow up and blood glucose testing
Teach drug administration technique for NPH
5.
Name of drug: Humulin 30/70
Normal dosage and route: 100 units / ml available as 10mL vials, 3 mL vials and 3mL prefilled
pains and subcutaneous route
Route: Subcutaneous
Peak: 2-4 hours and onset in 30 min
Duration: Last upto 24 hours following injection
Generic name: Humulin

7NURSING
Classification: 70% Humulin Insulin Isophane Suspension and 30% Human Insulin Injection
Action: Lower blood glucose level
Uses: Used to facilitate gylcemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus
Contraindications:
During episodes of hypoglycemia
Patients having hypersensitivity reactions to the drug
Adverse effects: Hypglyecmia, hypokalemia, allergic reactions to drug like development of
pruritus, local edema and erythema at the site of injection, peripheral edema and lipodystrophy
Nursing implications/considerations:
Nurse needs to look for symptoms of hypoglycemia in patient indicated by anxiety,
restlessness, drowsiness and irritability and symptoms of hyperglycemia by signs of drowsiness,
dry skin and rapid deep breathing.
Monitor body weight and assess blood glycose after every 6 hours
Patient/family teaching:
Patients need to be taught about method of administration and the need for regular testing
Advise patients to inform clinician about other medication regimen, adverse signs and
inability to follow nutritional and diet requirements
6.

8NURSING
Name of drug: Humalog 75/25
Normal dosage and route: 100 unit per ml (75% insulin lispro protamine suspension and 25%
insulin lispro injection) and subcutaneous route
Route: Subcutaneous route
Peak: Peak serum concentration achieved at 30-80 minutes after dosing and peak insulin
concentration between 50 to 120 minutes
Duration: Given 15 minutes before meal, effect is rapid and shorter duration
Generic name: Humalog mix 75/25
Classification: Insulin Lispro
Action: Helps in the regulation of glucose metabolism,
Uses: Used for controlling hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus. Insulin drug also
causes rapid transport of glucose and inhibition of protein catabolism
Contraindications: Contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and patient sensitive to
insuling lispro and other mixture contained in the drug
Adverse effects: Allergic reactions, lipodystrophy, pruritus, rash, hypoglycemia and injection
site reaction
Nursing implications/considerations: Regular assessment for symptom of hypoglycemia and
hyperglycemia and monitoring of body weight on a regular basis
Patient/family teaching:

9NURSING
Patients need education on administration techniques, maintain regular diet, follow up with
clinician and regular testing for serum glucose
7.
Name of drug: Lantus
Normal dosage and route: 10 units once daily and then adjusted according to patients need
Route: Subcutaneous route
Peak: None (slowly released for constant effect)
Duration: 24 hour
Generic name: Insulin glargine
Classification: Hormones and pancreatics
Action: Decrease blood glucose level
Uses: Used for controlling hyperglycemia in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Contraindications: hypoglycemia and allergy to the drug and used cautiously in case of
infection and renal/hepatic impairment
Adverse effects: Same as other insulin drugs above such hypoglycemia, pruritus and erthema
Nursing implications/considerations: Consider about hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, lab test
report and toxicity/overdose and precaution during accepting orders and mixing it with other
solutions

10NURSING
Patient/family teaching:
Teach patients about storage, type of insulin equipment and storage information for the drug
Advice regarding regular follow up
8.
Name of drug: Levemir
Normal dosage and route: 0.1-0.2 units/kg daily in the evening or 10 units daily
Route: Subcutaneous
Peak: 3-14 hour
Duration: 6-24 hour
Generic name: Insulin determir
Classification: Antidiabetics and pancreatics
Action: stimulate glucose uptake in skeletal muscles and fat
Uses: lowering blood glucose level
Contraindications: Hypoglycemia and allergy
Adverse effects: Same as other drug like hypoglycemia and pruritis
Nursing implications/considerations: Consideration for adverse symptoms, toxicity and
overdose
Patient/family teaching:

11NURSING
Instruction to patient about drug administration, medication regimen, testing and medicine
regimen and diet requirements.