Which lab value is checked in conjunction with insulin therapy?

Which lab value is checked in conjunction with insulin therapy?

• A. Serum potassium
• B. Liver function tests
• C. Serum glucose
• D. Creatinine

Answer: (C)

Insulin therapy is used to lower blood glucose, so the most important lab to monitor is serum glucose. Tracking glucose shows how the patient responds to insulin, helps you hit the target range, and detects hypoglycemia early. In hospital settings, you measure glucose before starting the infusion and at regular intervals (often hourly with IV insulin) to adjust the dose as needed. The other labs provide broader safety information about organ function but don’t guide the immediate insulin dosing. Potassium shifts can occur with insulin, so potassium may be monitored as well, but glucose is the lab that directly guides insulin therapy decisions.

Insulin therapy is used to lower blood glucose, so the most important lab to monitor is serum glucose. Tracking glucose shows how the patient responds to insulin, helps you hit the target range, and detects hypoglycemia early. In hospital settings, you measure glucose before starting the infusion and at regular intervals (often hourly with IV insulin) to adjust the dose as needed. The other labs provide broader safety information about organ function but don’t guide the immediate insulin dosing. Potassium shifts can occur with insulin, so potassium may be monitored as well, but glucose is the lab that directly guides insulin therapy decisions.