Question

a patient with type 1 diabetes has a blood glucose reading of 250 mg/dl before lunch. according to their sliding scale, they should receive 1 unit of insulin for the first 150 mg/dl and 1 unit for every 50 mg/dl over 150 mg/dl. how many units of insulin should the nurse administer?

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate the amount over 150 mg/dL

The patient's blood glucose is 250 mg/dL. The amount over 150 mg/dL is \(250 - 150=100\) mg/dL.

Step2: Determine the number of units for the amount over

Since 1 unit is given for every 50 mg/dL over 150 mg/dL. For 100 mg/dL over, the number of units is \(\frac{100}{50}=2\) units.

Step3: Add the unit for the first 150 mg/dL

1 unit is given for the first 150 mg/dL. So the total units is \(1 + 2=3\) units.

Answer:

3