Insulin Therapy and Diabetes Management - Practice Flashcards (VOCAB)

A set of 80 vocabulary-style flashcards covering insulin therapy, adverse effects, monitoring, and patient education drawn from the provided lecture notes.

Insulin

A hormone used to lower blood glucose; administered to treat diabetes.

Hypoglycemia

Abnormally low blood glucose; a potential adverse effect of insulin therapy.

Hypokalemia

Low potassium level; insulin can cause potassium to shift into cells; monitor.

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate; a common sign of hypoglycemia.

Palpitations

Sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat; a sign of hypoglycemia.

Diaphoresis

Heavy sweating; a sign of hypoglycemia.

Paresthesias

Tingling or numbness; can occur with electrolyte shifts such as hypokalemia.

Desmopressin

Endocrine medication that can cause fluid retention and weight gain.

Fluid retention

Accumulation of body fluids; a possible side effect of Desmopressin.

Weight gain

Increase in body weight; may occur with Desmopressin use.

Hyperglycemia

High blood glucose; insulin helps reduce it.

Polyuria

Increased urine production; common with hyperglycemia.

Oliguria

Reduced urine output; not typically caused by insulin therapy.

Constipation

Infrequent bowel movements; not a typical adverse effect of insulin.

Repaglinide

Meglitinide class drug that stimulates insulin release; can cause diarrhea.

Meglitinide

Class of drugs that stimulate pancreatic insulin release.

Diarrhea

Frequent loose stools; potential side effect of Repaglinide.

Lipohypertrophy

Accumulation of subcutaneous fat at insulin injection sites.

Injection site rotation

Alternating injection sites to prevent lipohypertrophy.

Room-temperature insulin

Insulin stored at ambient temperature; can be more comfortable to inject.

Carbohydrate snack

Snack containing carbohydrates to prevent hypoglycemia during insulin therapy.

Medical alert bracelet

Bracelet indicating diabetes/insulin therapy for emergencies.

Regular insulin

Short-acting insulin used around meals to control postprandial glucose.

Self-injection

The patient injecting insulin themselves.

Chilled insulin

Insulin stored cold; not recommended for injection.

Onset

Time from administration to the start of insulin action.

Peak

Time when insulin action is strongest after administration.

Lispro

Rapid-acting insulin analog; onset about 15–30 minutes.

Glargine

Long-acting insulin analog providing basal insulin over 24 hours.

Rapid-acting insulin

Insulin with quick onset and short duration (e.g., lispro).

Short-acting insulin

Insulin with moderate onset (e.g., regular insulin).

Basal insulin

Long-acting insulin that provides a steady background level.

Bolus insulin

Insulin given to cover meals; rapid- or short-acting around eating.

Subcutaneous injection

Administration of medication into the fatty tissue under the skin.

Endocrine system

System of glands that produce hormones, including insulin.

Hormone

Chemical messenger produced by glands that regulates body functions.

Hypoglycemia management

Actions to treat low blood glucose, including oral glucose or glucagon.

Glucose

Simple sugar used to raise blood glucose in hypoglycemia.

Glucagon

Hormone used to rapidly raise blood glucose in severe hypoglycemia.

Oral carbohydrate

Carbohydrate-containing food used to treat mild hypoglycemia.

Adverse reaction

Undesired or harmful reaction to a drug.

Lipohypertrophy prevention

Strategies to prevent fat buildup at injection sites (site rotation, proper handling).

Illness

Acute or chronic condition that may require insulin dose adjustments.

Stress

Physiologic or emotional strain that may necessitate insulin dose changes.

Infection

Infection can alter glucose control and require dose modification.

Pregnancy

Condition that can change insulin needs and dosing requirements.

Dosage adjustment

Changing insulin dose based on conditions like illness or pregnancy.

Nadir

The lowest point of blood glucose after insulin administration.

Nadir time example

Illustrative time when nadir occurs (e.g., 1730 in the case study).

Lispro onset

Onset of lispro insulin is about 15–30 minutes.

Lispro peak

Peak action of lispro is about 30 minutes to 1–2 hours.

Desmopressin mechanism

Increases water reabsorption in kidneys, causing fluid retention.

Desmopressin and weight gain

Fluid retention associated with Desmopressin can lead to weight gain.

Regular insulin education

Patient education focusing on snack carrying, site rotation, alert bracelet, and illness management.

Basal vs bolus concept

Basal provides background insulin; bolus covers meals.

Meal-time insulin

Insulin taken with meals to manage post-meal glucose rise.

Injected insulin technique

Techniques used for subcutaneous insulin administration.

Hypoglycemia symptoms: nausea

Nausea can occur as a symptom during hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia symptoms: muscle weakness

Muscle weakness can occur during hypoglycemia.

Acute hypoglycemia management

Immediate steps to treat low glucose, such as glucose or glucagon.

Glucose administration

Providing glucose orally or intravenously to raise blood sugar when needed.

Glucagon administration

Injectable glucagon used for severe hypoglycemia when oral glucose is not possible.

Illness episode management

Monitoring and adjusting insulin during illness to maintain control.

Pregnancy insulin management

Adjusting insulin therapy to meet changing needs during pregnancy.

Infection insulin management

Modifying insulin in the presence of infection to maintain glucose control.

Stress insulin management

Adjusting insulin dosing in response to physical or emotional stress.

Regular insulin dosing schedule

Timing of regular insulin around meals and monitoring response.

Lipohypertrophy prevention strategies

Rotation of injection sites and proper insulin handling to prevent fat buildup.

Injection technique: room temperature

Using room-temperature insulin to reduce discomfort and lipohypertrophy.

Potassium monitoring during insulin therapy

Regularly checking potassium levels due to risk of hypokalemia with insulin use.

Blood glucose nadir

The trough blood glucose value after insulin action completes.

Diabetic case study

A hypothetical scenario used to practice insulin dosing and management.

Lispro early onset

Confirmation that lispro begins acting quickly after injection.

Glargine long-acting

Smooth, prolonged insulin action designed to provide basal insulin.

Insulin therapy education

Education provided to patients starting insulin therapy.

Medical alert identification

Identification worn to inform caregivers and professionals in emergencies.

Monitoring for adverse effects

Regular assessment for signs of hypo- or hyperglycemia and electrolyte shifts.

Diurnal insulin patterns

Fluctuations in insulin action over the course of a day.

Potassium shift with insulin

Insulin promotes movement of potassium into cells, risking hypokalemia.

Case study questions

Exam or study questions based on insulin therapy scenarios.