1. Insulin Use In Outpatient and Inpatient Settings
Greg Cook, MD
Endocrinology Fellow

2. Objectives
Become familiar with different types of insulin and their actions
Understand how various insulin regimens compare and contrast with endogenous insulin production
Become comfortable initiating and managing insulin in the outpatient setting
Learn basics of inpatient insulin therapy
Learn how to use insulin to help address hyperglycemia caused by glucocorticoids or enteral nutrition

3. Case I
45 yo man with 12 year history of DM type II presents for initial visit to outpatient clinic. He is currently on metformin 1 gram BID and glipizide 10mg BID. He monitors his glucoses infrequently and reports fasting values of His mother recently died from diabetic complications, and he is very concerned about developing similar problems himself. Exam: Wt 242 lb (110 kg), BP is controlled Obese, +acanthosis nigricans on neck Labs: Serum glucose 286, Cr 1.3, Hgb A1c 9.6 In addition to encouraging dietary and lifestyle changes, how would you manage his diabetes?

4. Acanthosis Nigricans
Derm Atlas – www. dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu

5. Types of Insulin
Onset (h) Peak (h) Effective Duration (h) Rapid Acting Insulin lispro (Humalog) < Insulin aspart (Novolog) < Insulin glulisine (Apidra) < Short Acting Regular (Humulin R or Novolin R) Intermediate Acting NPH (Humulin N or Novolin N) Long Acting Insulin glargine (Lantus) 2-4 flat Insulin detemir (Levemir) Dose Dependent (dose dependent) 12 hr for 0.2 U/kg 20 hr for 0.4u/kg, up to 24 hr (binds to albumin) Mixes Humulin/Novolin 70/30 (NPH/Regular) Humalog/Novolog 75/25 (Insulin lispro/aspart protamine/lispro/aspart)

6. Pharmacokinetics of Various Insulin
Insulin Analogues NEJM 2005: 352;
Insulin Analogues NEJM 2005: 352;

7. Pharmacokinetics of Various Insulin

8. Blood Glucose Goals Fasting Glucose: 70-130 Pre-prandial goal: 70-130
Postprandial goal: <180

9. Terminology Basal Insulin: Prandial (Nutritional) Insulin:
Long acting insulin. Required in all type I patients, and patients over glycemic target. Required even when NPO
Prandial (Nutritional) Insulin:
Scheduled short acting insulin given in anticipation of carbohydrate induced hyperglycemic excursion
Adjust amount given if nutrition is diminished or interrupted
Correction Insulin:
Short acting insulin given in addition to scheduled insulin as a response to unexpected hyperglycemia. If this is used extensively, then scheduled insulin should be adjusted or added
Subcutaneous Insulin Order Sets and Protocols: Effective Design and Implementation Strategies. Journal of Hospital Medicine: Vol 3, Issue 5, supplement 5 – S29-S41
Subcutaneous Insulin Order Sets and Protocols: Effective Design and Implementation Strategies. Journal of Hospital Medicine:
Vol 3, Issue 5, supplement 5 – S29-S41

10. Glucose Control in Type II Diabetes

11. Case I - Treatment Initiate basal therapy with insulin glargine or NPH
Calculation of basal insulin:
Initiate with units/kg and higher for patients with known insulin resistance
Would start with 0.3 units/kg, or more, in this patient with obesity and acanthosis
Weight: 110kg
0.3 x 110 = 33 units, rounded to nearest even # = 34 units.
Written instructions to self-titrate dose by 2-4 units every 4 days for fasting glucoses > 130.
Would also suggest he stop at 60 units (0.5 units/kg).
Consider fast to evaluate basal dose
Add prandial insulin coverage, starting with largest meal

12. Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Algorithm for the Initiation and Adjustment of Therapy Diabetes Care 2006, Vol 29, number
Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Algorithm for the Initiation and
Adjustment of Therapy Diabetes Care 2006, Vol 29, number

13. Case II
32 yo overweight man with DM type II currently on Novolin 70/30 insulin, 30 units with breakfast and 20 units with dinner. Review of glucose log shows fasting glucoses around 200’s and pre-dinner glucoses (220’s), with frequent hypoglycemia occurring predominately before lunch, mainly on days that he eats a late lunch. He always eats a substantial bedtime snack due to a memorable episode of nighttime hypoglycemia. He has gained 10 pounds in last 3 months and is now 220 pounds. He wants to minimize number of insulin injections. What adjustments would you make?

14. Glucose Levels and Insulin physiology in Non-Diabetics

15. Mixed Insulin Regimens
Diabetes Education Online – University of California San Francisco (

16. Case II - Treatment Current regimen:
30 units 70/30 in AM = 21 units N, 9 units R
20 units 70/30 in PM = 14 units N, 6 units R
Calculation of total daily insulin dose:
0.4 – 0.8 units x weight (kg), based on insulin sensitivity
Case II: 0.5 x 100 = 50 units/day
50% as basal, 50% as bolus
Basal = 25, Bolus = 25
Could change to:
NPH 18 units in AM mixed with Aspart 8 units AC breakfast
Additional NPH at breakfast will help cover lunchtime hyperglycemia
Aspart 10 units AC dinner (his biggest meal)
NPH 12 units HS

17. NPH and Rapid Acting Insulin
NPH AM and AC dinner
NPH AM and HS
CME medscape

18. Case III
24 yo man presented 3 days ago with DKA and was diagnosed with type I diabetes. He is currently on an insulin infusion. He has received 40 units of insulin over the last 24 hours (avg = 1.67 units/hr), is eating a regular diet, and is ready for transfer to the floor. Exam: Wt 176 lbs (80kg) How would you transition him to SC Insulin?

19. Intensive Insulin Therapy

20. Intensive Insulin Therapy

21. Case III Calculation of Total Daily Dose (TDD) of Insulin
1. Using Insulin Infusion Information
80% of total dose: 0.8 x 40 = 32 units
Avg rate x 20: 1.67 x 20 = 32 units
May represent only basal amount if pt was NPO during infusion
2. Calculation based on body weight
units/kg for patients without significant insulin resistance: 0.4units/kg x 80kg = 32 units
Calculation of basal insulin:
50% of TDD = 16 units or 0.2 units/kg x 32kg = 16 units
Be sure to give basal insulin at least 2 hours prior to stopping insulin infusion

22. Case III continued Calculation of prandial insulin:
% of TDD divided between 3 meals: 16 units – approximately 5 units/meal
2. Carbohydrate ratio: (“Rule of 500”)
500/TDD of insulin = how many grams of CHO 1 unit of insulin will cover
Example: 500/32 units = – round to 15
One unit of meal-time insulin for every 15 grams of carbohydrates
Meals at MCV contain approx. 60 grams of CHO. For our patient, 4 units for each meal would be a starting point
Calculation of Correction Factor: (“Rule of 1500”)
1500/ Total Daily Dose of Insulin = how many mg/dl 1 unit of insulin will lower blood sugar
Example: 1500/32units = – rounded up 50
One unit of insulin should lower glucose by 50 mg/dl
For glucose of 350, 4 units of Aspart should lower level to 150

23. Examples of Standardized Correction Doses
** Note that HS correction dose is significantly less and maybe zero **
Subcutaneous Insulin Order Sets and Protocols: Effective Design and Implementation Strategies. Journal of Hospital Medicine: Vol 3, Issue 5, supplement 5 – S29-S41

24. Case III -Continued
Patient does not like hospital food and eats varying amounts of meal. What you should do?
Patient is going to be made NPO for procedure. What should you do?

25. Case III - Continued NPO status
If diabetic, especially type I, is to be NPO, be sure to continue basal insulin
Can decrease dose by 10% or 20% if uncertain of true basal needs
Change glucose monitoring to Q 6 hours
If patient’s appetite or PO intake is uncertain
Give mealtime Aspart after the meal
Can give ½ dose (2 units, for example) if about 50% of meal is eaten
If patient is able to count carbohydrates, he/she could tell nurse how much insulin to give after the meal, based on amount eaten

26. Case III Glucoses
Insulin regimen Basal Insulin: Glargine 16 units QAM Prandial Insulin: Aspart 5 units AC meals Correction Factor: 1 unit/50 mg/dl above 150 Glucoses What adjustments would you make to insulin regimen?
Date
AC B
AC L
AC D HS
7/10
175
122
189
115
7/11
192
101
210
120

27. Case IV
55 yo with DM type II, admitted with pneumonia. Meds: Glyburide 10mg daily Metformin 1 gram BID Exam: Wt 225 pounds (102 kg) Labs: Serum Glucose 285 Cr 1.5 (baseline of 1.2) Hgb A1c two months ago was 8.1 How would your manage his diabetes?

28. Hyperglycemia in the Hospital
Management of Hyperglycemia in the Hospital Setting NEJM 335:18 Nov 2006
Management of Hyperglycemia in the Hospital Setting NEJM 335:18 Nov 2006

29. Inpatient Management of Diabetes
Every diabetic patient should have recent A1c to assess control on diabetic regimen. If unknown or not recent, order A1c on admit
If A1c is <8%, outpatient regimen can be considered. If on oral meds, will need to verify there are no contraindications (renal, liver, and cardiac function, other medications, procedures, nutritional status, etc)
If A1c is >8% will need basal insulin, if on oral meds. If on insulin, will need adjustments to prior insulin regimen
Order Accuchecks AC meals and HS. Q6 hours if NPO

30. Inpatient Management of Diabetes
Basal insulin: units/kg in 2 divided doses for NPH. Glargine can be given in AM or bedtime
Prandial Insulin: MCV meals contain 60 g of CHO
Use “rule of 500” to calculate, or can start with between 4 (CHO 1:15) to 6 (CHO ratio of 1:10) units AC meals
Correction Dose:
Would at least provide correction for glucoses >300
Aspart 6 units for glucoses >300 is reasonable for most patients
Use rule of 1500 to adjust. For example, if correction factor is 1:20 and glucose is 350, with target glucose of 150, the difference is /20 = 10 units. 10 units of Aspart should lower glucose of 350 to 150 range

31. Case IV Total Daily Dose (TDD) : 0.6 units/kg = 0.6 x 102 = 60 Units
Basal Insulin: 50% of TDD = 30 units or 0.3 units/kg x 102 = 30
NPH 15 units AM and HS
Glargine 30 units
Prandial Insulin:
A. 50 % of TDD = 30 units
Aspart 10 units AC meals
B. Rule of 500 = 500/60 = For 60g CHO/meal. 60/8.3 =7
Aspart 7 units AC meals
Correction Dose:
A. Aspart 6 units prn for glucose > 300.
B. Rule of 1500: 1500/60 = U of insulin lowers glucose by 25

32. Case IV Correction Dose Glucose Insulin Glucose Insulin
< 70 Assess patient, treat <70 Assess + treat
No additional insulin None
unit units
units units
units units
units units
units units
units units + call
units
units
units
units and call MD

33. Case V
65 yo with DM type II and COPD admitted with COPD exacerbation. Home regimen was NPH 20 units AM, HS and Aspart 10 units AC breakfast and AC dinner. He is to be on prednisone 60mg daily as an inpatient and then will receive prednisone taper over 10 days on discharge Exam: Weight 80 kg How would you adjust his insulin regiment to account for hyperglycemic effects of corticosteroid?

34. Case V Corticosteroids induce insulin resistance
Although prednisone is dosed every 24 hours, hyperglycemic effect is only a little over 12 hours
Once above 40mg, increasing doses of prednisone do not have added hyperglycemic effects
NPH’s has a duration of action to cover this effect
NPH 0.1 units/kg for every 10mg of prednisone up to 40 mg

35. Case V
For our 80 kg patient: Dose of prednisone NPH to be added home regimen 60mg 0.4 U/kg x 80kg = 32 units 40mg 0.4 U/kg x 80kg = 32 units 20mg 0.2 U/kg x 80kg = 16 units 10mg 0.1 U/kg x 80 kg = 8 units For 60 mg of prednisone, he would take 20 U NPH + 32 U NPH = 52 U NPH in AM at the same time as prednisone He will continue 20 U NPH at bedtime and same mealtime Aspart insulin He may likely need more dinner Aspart while on prednisone

36. Case VI
60 yo with DM type II, laryngeal cancer, s/p surgery. He is currently on continuous TFs with Two Cal HN at 60 ml per hour. He is unsure of his home diabetes regimen. Exam: Weight 85 kg Labs: Hgb A1c is 8.4 How would you control his glucoses while on the TFs?

37. Case VI
1. Calculate Total Daily Dose of Insulin 0.6 x 85 kg = 51 Units (50 units) 2. Calculate basal needs: 0.3 units/kg x 85 = 25.5 units (25 units) 2. Rule of 500 to calculate carbohydrate ratio 500/50 = 10 1 unit will cover 10g of carbohydrates 3. Calculate total grams of carbohydrates to be covered -1st calculate total amount (volume) of TFs 60 ml/hr x 24 hours = 1440 ml/day -Next calculate how many grams of carbohydrates (CHO) this gives/day Two cal HN has 52 g of CHO per 8 fl oz can (236ml) or 0.22 g CHO/ml 0.22 g CHO/ml x 1440 ml/day = 317 g CHO/day -Finally calculate how much insulin is needed to cover CHO content of TFs 317 g CHO/day x 1U/10g CHO = 31.7 or 32 units 4. Basal insulin + Insulin to cover TFs = 25 U + 32 U = 57 Units

38. Case IV Options for TF coverage:
Glargine daily, Regular every 6 hr, Aspart every 4 hr, or NPH every 8 hr
Tube feeds tend to be interrupted often (i.e. for procedures or because the patients pull them out)
For our patient, we would choose NPH every 8 hours
57 units total/ 3 = 19 units NPH Q 8 hours
*If TFs are stopped, he will need D10 infusion to cover NPH

39. Key Points Individualize insulin therapy based on Etiology of diabetes
Weight, BMI and anticipated insulin resistance
Clinical setting- inpatient vs outpatient
Patient’s diet or nutritional status
Treatment goals

40. The End
Any Questions?