Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

During an insulin administration assessment, what was the mistake made with a non-refillable insulin pen device?

1. Did not clean the skin with alcohol

2. Did not pinch the skin before injecting

3. Left the needle in the skin for 10 seconds after injecting

4. Did not prime the needle before dialing the dose

The correct answer is: Did not prime the needle before dialing the dose

The correct answer highlights the critical step of priming the insulin pen before administering the dose. Priming ensures that insulin is present at the needle tip, which minimizes the risk of delivering an inadequate dose when the pen is first activated. When using a non-refillable insulin pen device, failing to prime the needle can lead to dose delivery issues, such as receiving less medication than intended or potentially no insulin at all. This step is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of the medication and maintaining blood glucose control. In contrast, while cleaning the skin with alcohol, pinching the skin, and leaving the needle in for a few seconds post-injection are important practices in insulin administration, they do not directly influence the integrity of the dose being delivered through the device on initial use. Thus, they are not as pivotal as the necessity to ensure that the insulin pen is primed correctly prior to dosing.