sliding scale

[Nik]

Actrapid is the most common one I believe, 50 units with 49.5ml 0.9% saline, giving 1 unit/ml. Don't tend to use the others.

[bobbin]

what I am saying is you try to reduce glucose in patients with diabetes so why infuse them on glucose

Managing diabetes isn't just about reducing glucose, it's about attempting to normalise metabolism. Glucose is not 'bad', it is essential for life. In diabetes, normal metabolism is impaired and glucose levels can get very high. Insulin is needed to maintain normal or near-normal blood glucose but no one can survive without glucose. If you infused a NBM diabetic with insulin but they weren't getting any sugar they would become hypoglycaemic and eventually die.

[bobbin]

Actrapid is the most common one I believe, 50 units with 49.5ml 0.9% saline, giving 1 unit/ml. Don't tend to use the others.

Actrapid is the least expensive so that makes sense. I don't suppose there's any advantage in using the analogues IV.

NovoRapid and Humalog seem to be the usual choices for SC infusion pumps in the community. According to the BNF, Actrapid is not recommended for use in SC infusion pumps due to its tendency to precipitate in the catheter or needle.

[Nik]

Actrapid is the least expensive so that makes sense.

Now you're thinking like a hospital pharmacist !

[Asterix]

Actrapid is the most common one I believe, 50 units with 49.5ml 0.9% saline, giving 1 unit/ml. Don't tend to use the others.

Didn't think you could have 49.5ml NaCL infusion bag?

Type 1 diabetics always need insulin but a type 2 diabetic has reduced sensitivity so could you get away without the sliding in a type 2 on oral antidiabetics?

[Nik]

Didn't think you could have 49.5ml NaCL infusion bag?

Type 1 diabetics always need insulin but a type 2 diabetic has reduced sensitivity so could you get away without the sliding in a type 2 on oral antidiabetics?

Err no - you withdraw 0.5ml from a 50ml bag ? Actrapid is 100 units/ml, so 50 units/0.5ml which replaces the "lost" saline.

Have a look at your trust sliding scale policy - plenty of info on managing diabetics including type 2's on tabs and/or insulin in textbooks, internet etc.