What nursing intervention is essential when administering insulin?

When administering insulin, ensuring the correct site of injection is crucial to avoid complications. Different injection sites can affect the absorption rate of insulin, as well as the potential for developing lipodystrophy or other forms of localized tissue damage. For optimal insulin absorption and to minimize the risk of complications, the injection sites should be rotated regularly. This helps to maintain the health of the subcutaneous tissue and ensures consistent glucose control.

Using the same site repeatedly can lead to uneven absorption and potential complications, while using an expired vial of insulin undermines the effectiveness of the medication and compromises patient safety. Additionally, administering insulin without checking blood glucose levels could result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, which would directly impact patient health. Thus, choosing the proper injection site is an essential nursing intervention in the administration of insulin.