Marlene Hernandez

💉Understanding insulin calculations is essential for the NAPLEX and for providing safe, effective patient care. Mastering these concepts will help you appropriately dose patients’ insulin in outpatient, inpatient, and emergent settings.

✨The Rule of 500 is used to estimate the insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio (ICR), which guides how much insulin a patient requires to manage carbohydrate intake during meals. This calculation is vital for individuals with diabetes, as it helps balance carbohydrate consumption and insulin dosing to prevent postprandial hyperglycemia.

✨The Rule of 1800 is used to determine the insulin sensitivity factor (ISF), which estimates how much one unit of rapid-acting insulin will lower a patient’s blood glucose. It provides a practical way to individualize insulin dosing based on patient-specific needs and ensures that high blood glucose levels can be managed safely without risking hypoglycemia. The Rule of 1800 is a key tool for improving glycemic control, especially in patients with variable blood glucose patterns, or those transitioning to insulin therapy.

✨Continuous infusion insulin is critical in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Continuous infusion provides a steady delivery of insulin. This is essential for suppressing ketogenesis, lowering blood glucose levels gradually, and correcting the metabolic abnormalities seen in DKA. This method allows for precise control of insulin administration, with the aim to prevent hypoglycemia or rapid shifts in osmolality. It requires close monitoring and adjustments based on the patient’s clinical response.

✨Insulin dosing can be complex but is manageable with the right tools. Focus on these foundational rules to ensure confidence in practice and patient safety. Happy learning!