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Updated: Oct 25, 2025
12:08
Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
19.1K
Advances in safe insulin infusions.
Fred Massoomi1, Maureen Burger1, Christine de Vries1
1Visante Inc., St Paul, MN, USA.
Drugs in Context
|August 5, 2021
Summary
Hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients indicates poor outcomes. Ready-to-administer intravenous (IV) insulin infusions offer a safer alternative to in-house compounding, improving patient safety and treatment efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Pharmacology
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Hyperglycemia is a known indicator of adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients.
- Intravenous (IV) insulin infusions are crucial for managing hyperglycemia but traditionally compounded in-house.
- In-house compounding of high-alert medications like IV insulin presents significant patient and institutional risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the expanding indications for insulin infusions.
- To explore the risks and opportunities associated with current insulin infusion practices.
- To identify potential strategies for enhancing the safety of IV insulin administration.
Main Methods:
- This study is a narrative review.
- It synthesizes information on insulin infusion therapy.
- It examines the transition from compounded to ready-to-administer products.
Main Results:
- Ready-to-administer IV insulin products are emerging as a safer alternative.
- These products aim to improve safety, timeliness, efficacy, and efficiency of critical infusions.
- The review highlights the benefits of standardized, commercially prepared IV insulin.
Conclusions:
- The adoption of ready-to-use IV insulin represents a significant advancement in patient safety.
- This shift addresses the inherent risks of in-house compounding for high-alert therapies.
- Further exploration of indications and safety protocols for these new products is warranted.
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