What is Insulin lispro used for?
- Mealtime (bolus) insulin in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Correction doses
- Insulin pumps
Rapid-acting insulin analog. Clear solution.
How Insulin lispro works
Rapid-acting insulin analog: absorbed quickly to cover the rise in blood glucose after a meal.
Common side effects
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypokalemia
- Injection-site reactions
Report right away
- Signs of low blood sugar
- Repeated high readings
Nursing considerations for Insulin lispro
- Onset about 15 minutes, peak about 1 hour, duration about 3 to 5 hours.
- Give within 15 minutes before a meal or right after eating; make sure the meal tray is available before giving it.
- Check the blood glucose before giving it and follow the correction scale ordered.
Patient teaching
- Do not inject it unless food is in front of you or you are about to eat.
- Treat low blood sugar with 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes.
This card does not list doses. Use the prescriber's order, the product label and a current drug reference for dosing, and follow your facility's policies.
Insulins practice questions
NCLEX-style questions on the class Insulin lispro belongs to.
3 questions. Choose an answer to see the rationale.
-
When mixing regular and NPH insulin in one syringe, which insulin is drawn up first?
Show answer
Answer A: Regular (clear) Clear before cloudy: draw up regular first so that NPH (which contains protamine) does not contaminate the regular insulin vial.
-
A patient received NPH insulin at 0700. At what time is hypoglycemia most likely?
Show answer
Answer A: Early to mid-afternoon NPH peaks about 4 to 12 hours after injection, so a morning dose peaks in the afternoon.
-
Which insulin can be given by continuous IV infusion?
Show answer
Answer D: Regular Regular insulin is the insulin routinely used for IV infusions. Glargine, NPH and premixed insulins are subcutaneous only.
Frequently asked questions
What is Insulin lispro used for?
Mealtime (bolus) insulin in type 1 and type 2 diabetes; Correction doses; Insulin pumps.
What drug class is Insulin lispro?
Insulin lispro belongs to the class insulins. Rapid-acting insulin analog: absorbed quickly to cover the rise in blood glucose after a meal.
What are the nursing considerations for Insulin lispro?
Onset about 15 minutes, peak about 1 hour, duration about 3 to 5 hours. Give within 15 minutes before a meal or right after eating; make sure the meal tray is available before giving it.
What should patients report while taking Insulin lispro?
signs of low blood sugar; repeated high readings.