Reducing harm in patients using insulin.
Controlling blood sugars with insulin is an important part of managing hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. However, the literature has shown that the use of insulin has been associated with more medication errors than any other type or class of drug. This article will highlight medication errors that may arise during the use of insulin in the long-term facility and provide risk-reduction recommendations to address the potential for error and patient harm.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Horsham, Pennsylvania.
Matthew
M
Grissinger
ISMP Medication Safety Alert!® Community/Ambulatory Care Edition, Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
Michael J
MJ
Gaunt
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003142:Communication; D004348:Drug Labeling; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004349:Drug Packaging; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
ADE = Adverse drug event; Adverse drug event; BG = Blood glucose; Blood glucose; Contributing factors; ED = Emergency department; Hypoglycemia; ISMP = Institute for Safe Medication Practices; Institute for Safe Medication Practices; Insulin; MAR = Medication administration record; Medication errors; NEISS-CADES = National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance; Risk-reduction strategies; Sliding scale; T1DM = Type 1 diabetes mellitus