Insulin sliding scale practice problems
Work each problem on paper first, rounding as the question says. Then open the answer to check it and see every step.
For study and exam practice, not for patient care. The orders in these problems are written for practice. In the clinic, follow the prescriber's order, your facility's protocols, and your pharmacy.
Problem 1
Order: insulin lispro subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 2 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 4 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 6 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 8 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 10 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 330 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 8 units
- Find the scale row that holds 330 mg/dL: 300 to 349 mg/dL.
- That row gives 8 units.
- 8 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 2
The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for insulin aspart subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 3 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 6 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 9 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 12 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 15 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 381 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 15 units
- Find the scale row that holds 381 mg/dL: 350 to 400 mg/dL.
- That row gives 15 units.
- 15 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 3
The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for insulin lispro subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: 150 to 199 mg/dL, 1 unit; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 2 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 3 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 4 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 5 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 259 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 3 units
- Find the scale row that holds 259 mg/dL: 250 to 299 mg/dL.
- That row gives 3 units.
- 3 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 4
Order: insulin aspart subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 2 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 4 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 6 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 8 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 10 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 338 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 8 units
- Find the scale row that holds 338 mg/dL: 300 to 349 mg/dL.
- That row gives 8 units.
- 8 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 5
Order: insulin lispro subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 2 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 4 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 6 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 8 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 10 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 152 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 2 units
- Find the scale row that holds 152 mg/dL: 150 to 199 mg/dL.
- That row gives 2 units.
- 2 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 6
Order: insulin aspart subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 3 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 6 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 9 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 12 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 15 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 219 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 6 units
- Find the scale row that holds 219 mg/dL: 200 to 249 mg/dL.
- That row gives 6 units.
- 6 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 7
Order: insulin lispro subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 2 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 4 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 6 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 8 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 10 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 296 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 6 units
- Find the scale row that holds 296 mg/dL: 250 to 299 mg/dL.
- That row gives 6 units.
- 6 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 8
The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for insulin aspart subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: 150 to 199 mg/dL, 1 unit; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 2 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 3 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 4 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 5 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. Before lunch, the client's blood glucose is 164 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 1 units
- Find the scale row that holds 164 mg/dL: 150 to 199 mg/dL.
- That row gives 1 unit.
- 1 unit is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 9
Order: insulin lispro subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: 150 to 199 mg/dL, 2 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 4 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 6 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 8 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 10 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 177 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 2 units
- Find the scale row that holds 177 mg/dL: 150 to 199 mg/dL.
- That row gives 2 units.
- 2 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
Problem 10
The nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for insulin aspart subcutaneously before meals per sliding scale: blood glucose 150 to 199 mg/dL, 2 units; 200 to 249 mg/dL, 4 units; 250 to 299 mg/dL, 6 units; 300 to 349 mg/dL, 8 units; 350 to 400 mg/dL, 10 units; above 400 mg/dL, call the primary health care provider. The client's blood glucose before lunch is 157 mg/dL. How many units should the nurse administer? Record your answer using a whole number.
Show answer and steps
Answer: 2 units
- Find the scale row that holds 157 mg/dL: 150 to 199 mg/dL.
- That row gives 2 units.
- 2 units is exact, so no rounding is needed.
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