A patient was admitted through the emergency room for a non-diabetes related event. At admission, it was reported that she took 36 units of Humalog twice daily. The primary care physician reviewed the current insulin dose, before he wrote the orders and thought it "didn’t sound quite right"....
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After further investigation, it was discovered that this patient was taking Humalog 75/25 insulin twice daily.
Lesson Learned:
If this patient had been given 36 units Humalog instead of the Humalog 75/25, she would have had severe hypoglycemia. Ask patients what type of insulin they are using, and clarify if they are taking the plain analog or if it is a pre-mixed insulin.
Connie J. Buss, RD, LD, CDE
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