Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Resource.

Subcutaneous insulin should be administered 30 minutes prior to discontinuing the intravenous insulin to ensure that there is a smooth transition between the two administration routes. When initiating subcutaneous insulin, it takes some time for insulin to be absorbed and become effective. By timing the administration in this way, the body can start to utilize the subcutaneous insulin before the IV insulin is completely stopped, minimizing the risk of hyperglycemia.

This strategy is critical because intravenous insulin is rapidly acting, while subcutaneous insulin has a delayed onset of action due to the absorption process. Administering subcutaneous insulin too late could lead to a gap in glycemic control during the transition, leaving the patient vulnerable to elevated blood glucose levels. The timing ensures that insulin efficacy overlaps, maintaining stable blood glucose levels.

In contrast, administering subcutaneous insulin immediately after stopping the IV insulin would create a risk of uncontrolled hyperglycemia because there would be a delay until the subcutaneous insulin begins to take effect. Discontinuing the IV insulin at the same time or 1 hour prior would also not provide the necessary overlap in action, creating potential challenges in managing blood glucose levels effectively during this critical transition period.