Which sequence is correct when drawing up insulin types?

Which sequence is correct when drawing up insulin types?

• A. Short-acting before long-acting (clear before cloudy)
• B. Long-acting before short-acting (cloudy before clear)
• C. Draw up short-acting only
• D. Mix both insulins in the same syringe

Answer: (A)

When drawing up more than one type of insulin, the order is to pull up the clear, short-acting insulin first, then the cloudy, longer-acting insulin. This clear-before-cloudy sequence prevents contaminating the short-acting insulin with the long-acting insulin in the syringe, which could alter the dose you’re delivering and change how quickly or how long the insulin acts. In practice, short-acting and intermediate-acting insulins can be mixed in the same syringe if prescribed, but you still draw up the clear insulin first and avoid mixing long-acting insulin with other insulins in the same syringe unless specifically ordered. If only one type is prescribed, there’s no mixing needed.

When drawing up more than one type of insulin, the order is to pull up the clear, short-acting insulin first, then the cloudy, longer-acting insulin. This clear-before-cloudy sequence prevents contaminating the short-acting insulin with the long-acting insulin in the syringe, which could alter the dose you’re delivering and change how quickly or how long the insulin acts. In practice, short-acting and intermediate-acting insulins can be mixed in the same syringe if prescribed, but you still draw up the clear insulin first and avoid mixing long-acting insulin with other insulins in the same syringe unless specifically ordered. If only one type is prescribed, there’s no mixing needed.