How often is blood glucose monitored during the insulin infusion per hospital protocol?

• A. Every 15 minutes
• B. Every 30 minutes
• C. Every hour
• D. Every 4 hours

Answer: (C)

Frequent glucose checks are necessary when an IV insulin infusion is running because insulin can cause rapid changes in blood sugar. Hospital protocols commonly require hourly monitoring of blood glucose so you can adjust the infusion rate promptly and prevent dangerous hypoglycemia or prolonged hyperglycemia. Checking more frequently, like every 15 or 30 minutes, is typically unnecessary for most stable infusions and can be burdensome, while checking every 4 hours risks missing critical swings in glucose. With hourly measurements, you can follow the protocol’s guidelines to adjust the insulin rate as needed and maintain glucose in the target range, ensuring patient safety during insulin therapy. Some units may extend the interval once stability is achieved, but hourly monitoring serves as the standard baseline for IV insulin infusions.