A hospitalized client is newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The client must take both NPH and Regular insulin for glucose control. The nurse develops a teaching plan to help the client meet which outcome as a first step in managing the disease?

A hospitalized client is newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The client must take both NPH and Regular insulin for glucose control. The nurse develops a teaching plan to help the client meet which outcome as a first step in managing the disease?

• A. Avoid all strenuous exercise.
• B. Maintain health at an optimum level.
• C. Lose 40 pounds to achieve ideal body weight.
• D. Adjust insulin according to capillary blood glucose levels.

Answer: (D)

The essential idea here is that adjusting insulin based on actual blood glucose readings is the foundation for starting insulin therapy with both a short-acting and an intermediate-acting insulin. Regular insulin targets mealtime glucose and acts quickly, while NPH provides longer‑acting, basal coverage. To dose these agents safely and effectively, the patient must learn to measure capillary glucose and use those readings to guide insulin dosing. This gives concrete data to decide how much insulin is needed before meals and how to adjust the NPH dose for ongoing control, reducing the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Other aspects like avoiding exercise, aiming for a specific weight, or general health optimization are important later steps, but they hinge on having reliable glucose readings and an ability to adjust insulin first. With proper glucose monitoring and dose adjustment, the regimen becomes safer and more effective, enabling better overall glucose control.

The essential idea here is that adjusting insulin based on actual blood glucose readings is the foundation for starting insulin therapy with both a short-acting and an intermediate-acting insulin. Regular insulin targets mealtime glucose and acts quickly, while NPH provides longer‑acting, basal coverage. To dose these agents safely and effectively, the patient must learn to measure capillary glucose and use those readings to guide insulin dosing. This gives concrete data to decide how much insulin is needed before meals and how to adjust the NPH dose for ongoing control, reducing the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

Other aspects like avoiding exercise, aiming for a specific weight, or general health optimization are important later steps, but they hinge on having reliable glucose readings and an ability to adjust insulin first. With proper glucose monitoring and dose adjustment, the regimen becomes safer and more effective, enabling better overall glucose control.