[.
]Action/Kinetics:
Contains 70% crystalline and 30% amorphous insulin suspension. Considered intermediate-acting. Principal advantage is the absence of a sensitizing agent such as protamine. Onset: 1-2.5 hr. Peak: 7-15 hr. Duration: About 22 hr. Note: Lente beef/pork insulins are being phased out.
Uses:
Allergy to other types of insulin and in clients disposed to thrombotic phenomena in which protamine may be a factor. Not a replacement for regular insulin and is not suitable for emergency use.
How Supplied:
Injection: 100 U/mL
Dosage
•SC
Diabetes.
Adults, initial: 7-26 units 30-60 min before breakfast. Dosage is then increased by daily or weekly increments of 2-10 units until satisfactory readjustment is established. A second smaller dose may be given prior to the evening meal or at bedtime. Clients on NPH can be transferred to insulin zinc suspension on a unit-for-unit basis. Clients being transferred from regular insulin should begin zinc insulin at two-thirds to three-fourths the regular insulin dosage. If the client is being transferred from protamine zinc insulin, the dose of zinc insulin should be about 50% of that required for protamine zinc insulin.
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