For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on JR is out of lispro (Humalog) insulin and is panicking. 42% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question.
Question: JR is a 19-year-old, living with type 1 diabetes. They use lispro (Humalog) insulin in their insulin pump. They just heard from their pharmacy that lispro is in short supply and they don’t know when they will be getting in the next shipment. JR tells you they are almost done with their current lispro vial and is panicking, asking what they should do.
Answer Choices:
- Contact your provider to order lispro insulin in a prefilled pen to use for the pump.
- Ask provider to prescribe other rapid acting insulin that is available.
- If you can’t access your healthcare provider, and you need insulin for your pump urgently, you can purchase a vial of regular insulin over the counter.
- A & B
- All of the above.
Getting to the Best Answer
Answer 1 is incorrect. 7.8% chose this answer. “Contact your provider to order lispro insulin in a prefilled pen to use for the pump.” This answer is correct, but it is not the BEST answer. Since insulin pens are more readily available and it is the same insulin formulation and concentration, JR can use the insulin from a lispro insulin pen in their pump. However, there is a better answer, so, keep reading.
Answer 2 is incorrect. 21.35% of you chose this answer. “Ask provider to prescribe other rapid acting insulin that is available.” This answer is correct, but it is not the BEST answer. There are other rapid acting insulins such as NovoLog (insulin aspart) or the biosimilar insulin Admelog (insulin lispro injection) made by other manufacturers that are more readily available with the same insulin concentration. However, there is a better answer, so, keep reading.
Answer 3 is incorrect. About 7.4% of respondents chose this. “If you can’t access your healthcare provider, and you need insulin for your pump urgently, you can purchase a vial of regular insulin over the counter.” This answer is correct, but it is not the BEST answer. Regular insulin is available for purchase over-the-counter without the need for a prescription and is FDA approved for used in an insulin pump. However, there is a better answer, so, keep reading.
Answer 4 is incorrect. 21.6% chose this answer. “A & B”
Finally, Answer 5 is correct. 41.9% chose this answer. “All of the above.” YES, this is the best answer, all 3 options are correct. Of course, we encourage individuals to consult with their healthcare provider, since everyone responds differently to switching insulins. We wanted to raise awareness with this question, since many individuals with diabetes who use insulin lispro and Humalog vials for their insulin pumps have encountered shortages. We can reassure them that there are several options to get them by until lispro and Humalog insulin are back on the shelf. For more info, you can download our Insulin PocketCards.
We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this important learning activity!
Want to Learn more about recognizing and addressing Diabetes Distress?
Join us live on May 22nd & May 29th, 2024 for our
ReViVE 5 Diabetes Training Program:
Unlocking Hidden Barriers to Diabetes Management
“ReVive 5” breathes new life into our relationship with diabetes, bringing a fresh perspective to both the person with diabetes and the provider.
The ReVive 5 program is built on sound research from the Embark Trial and will revolutionize your approach to diabetes self-management education.
We have reassembled the Embark training team and created a resource binder of fantastic tools that we are excited to share with you in our ReVive 5 Diabetes Training Program. You are invited to join us to learn a step-wise, proven approach to addressing hidden barriers to diabetes self-management and glucose management.
You don’t need to be mental health expert or diabetes technology wiz to join this training or to integrate these new strategies into your daily practice.
ReVive 5 uses an integrated, evidence-based approach that provides health care professionals with a realistic 5-step approach to addressing the whole person, starting with emotional distress and incorporating a unique, but integrated approach to problem-solving glucose management difficulties.
Intended Audience: This library of critical information is designed for individuals or groups of diabetes specialists, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with diabetes and preparing for the CDCES or BC-ADM Certification Exams.
Can’t join live? That’s okay. Your registration guarantees you access to the recorded version of the series, along with podcasts and resources for one full year.
Accredited Training Program:
- 15+ CEs – Includes the 7-hour ReVive 5 Training Program, Certificate, and 5 FREE bonus courses to supplement content.
- A comprehensive set of assessment tools, educational materials, log sheets, and resources.
Join us to gain the confidence and learn the skills needed to support people with diabetes to move forward in their self-management and discover the expert within.
Team of Experts:
ReVive 5 is taught by a team of 3 Interdisciplinary Experts:
- Lawrence Fisher, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor Emeritus, UCSF
- Susan Guzman, PhD
- Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
Speakers Interviews – Learn more about the ReVive 5 Team
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post weekly Blog Bytes that are informative and FREE! Every week we post one exam practice Question of the Week and Rationale of the Week. Sign up below!
Recent Blog Bytes
- Question of the Week | Sleep and ADA Recommendations
- Rationale of the Week | Who Benefits Most from Mindful Eating as a Primary Strategy?
- Strategies to Stick With Incretin Therapy: Managing GI Symptoms
- Letting Go of Judgment – Embracing Curiosity
- Question of the Week | Remote Eye Screening Precautions
Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/insta-png-v5.png")
