Why is insulin a high risk medication?

Insulin is considered a “high alert” medication by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices,2 because any errors made in insulin dosing and/or injection technique can lead to severe consequences for patients. Most importantly, insulin errors can lead to severe hypoglycemia, which can be fatal.

Why is too much insulin bad?

Excess insulin in the bloodstream causes cells in your body to absorb too much glucose (sugar) from your blood. It also causes the liver to release less glucose. These two effects together create dangerously low glucose levels in your blood. This condition is called hypoglycemia.

Is insulin considered a high alert medication?

*All forms of insulin, subcutaneous and IV, are considered a class of high-alert medications. Insulin U-500 has been singled out for special emphasis to bring attention to the need for distinct strategies to prevent the types of errors that occur with this concentrated form of insulin.

What drugs are considered high risk?

High risk medications

• A – Antimicrobials.
• P – Potassium and other electrolytes, psychotropic medications.
• I – Insulin.
• N – Narcotics, opioids and sedatives.
• C – Chemotherapeutic agents.
• H – Heparin and other anticoagulants.
• S – Safer systems (e.g. safe administration of liquid medications using oral syringes)

What is high risk medication policy?

While all medications carry risk of adverse events if prescribed, administered or dispensed inappropriately, high risk medications are those that have an increased risk of causing significant patient harm or death if they are misused or used in error.

What insulins are rapid acting?

Rapid-acting insulin (Novolog, Humalog, Apidra) begins to work almost as soon as you inject it and quickly leaves the body 2 to 4 hours later. You will typically inject a rapid-acting insulin right before a meal to keep your blood sugar from spiking too high after the meal.

What are the side effects of high insulin levels?

The following symptoms may indicate that you have high insulin levels in your blood:

• Frequent and intensive hunger.
• Excess cravings for sugar.
• Weight gain, especially around the waist, forming an apple shape.
• Fatigue.
• Lack of motivation or focus.
• Anxiety and panic.

What does high insulin mean?

Hyperinsulinemia (hi-pur-in-suh-lih-NEE-me-uh) means the amount of insulin in your blood is higher than what’s considered normal. Alone, it isn’t diabetes. But hyperinsulinemia is often associated with type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that’s normally produced by your pancreas, which helps regulate blood sugar.

What are the top 5 high alert medications?

The five high-alert medications are insulin, opiates and narcotics, injectable potassium chloride (or phosphate) concentrate, intravenous anticoagulants (heparin), and sodium chloride solutions above 0.9\%.

What is high alert?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English high alerta situation in which people are told to be ready because there is a strong possibility of an attack or of something dangerous happeningput/place somebody on high alert Troops were put on high alert.

What are the top 5 high-alert medications?

What is meant by high risk?

1 : likely to result in failure, harm, or injury : having a lot of risk a high-risk activity high-risk investments. 2 : more likely than others to get a particular disease, condition, or injury high-risk patients patients in the high-risk group.