Question

What should the nurse teach the patient about Sliding-Scale Insulin coverage?

Answer 1

Sliding scale insulin refers to the progressive increase in the pre meal or nighttime insulin dose. that is based on pre-defined glucose level.Sliding scale regimens may include a bedtime high blood sugar correction.When using sliding scle,eat the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal.It is the most common method to treat hospitalized patient with diabetes is sliding scale insulin therapy.That refers to the increasing administration of the pre -meal insulin dose based on the blood sugar level before the meal.

patient education

-In this therapy model,blood sugar is taken about four times a day that is every 4 to 6 hours before every meal,and educate them about dose of insulin to be taken is based on the blood sugar reading.

-Usually, fast acting insulins are using on sliding scale therapy

-The amount of carbohydrate to be eaten at each meal is pre-set.

-Educate them about the basal or background insulin dose dose't change.So they can take the same long-acting insulin dose no matter what the blood glucose level.

-Educate them about the bolus insulin is based on the blood sugar level before the meal or at bed time .`

-Educate them about when they using sliding scale methord ,eat the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal.Otherwise while the food my change,the time and the carbohydrate content of the meal should not vary.

-Engage them in an equivalent level of activity from day to day.Try not to vary the timing,type or duration of activity.

-Inform them that the doses are administered 4 to 6 times a day and as fast acting insulin are useing for this methord,doses of insulin can get stacked up,resulting in very low blood sugar reading,.

-Then provide practice is to give patient a long acting basal insulin that will control the blood sugars steadily over period of 24 hours.So along that giving rapid acting mealtime insulin along with correction dose to regulate blood sugar levels after meals will be more effective.