Calculating Insulin Drip Rate

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Insulin Drip Rate Calculator

Pump Infusion Rate
mL / hour

Understanding Insulin Drip Calculations

In critical care settings, managing intravenous (IV) insulin therapy requires precise calculations to ensure patient safety and effective glycemic control. The insulin drip rate calculation determines how many milliliters per hour (mL/hr) an infusion pump should be set to based on the physician's order in Units per hour.

The Calculation Formula

The math behind the insulin drip is a variation of the standard "desired over have" dosage calculation. The formula used is:

Flow Rate (mL/hr) = (Ordered Dose [Units/hr] × Total Volume [mL]) ÷ Total Insulin Units in Bag

Standard Concentration Example

Most hospitals utilize a standard concentration of 1:1. For example, if you have 100 Units of Regular Insulin in 100 mL of Normal Saline:

  • Ordered Dose: 6 Units/hr
  • Total Insulin in Bag: 100 Units
  • Total Volume: 100 mL
  • Calculation: (6 × 100) / 100 = 6 mL/hr

Non-Standard Concentration Example

In cases of fluid restriction, you may see higher concentrations. For example:

  • Ordered Dose: 10 Units/hr
  • Total Insulin in Bag: 250 Units
  • Total Volume: 100 mL
  • Calculation: (10 × 100) / 250 = 4 mL/hr

Clinical Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only. Always verify medical calculations with a second licensed professional (RN, Pharmacist, or MD) and follow your facility's specific insulin protocol and titration charts.

function calculateDripRate() { var dose = parseFloat(document.getElementById('insulinDose').value); var units = parseFloat(document.getElementById('totalInsulinUnits').value); var volume = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bagVolume').value); var resultContainer = document.getElementById('dripResultDisplay'); var resultText = document.getElementById('finalRate'); if (isNaN(dose) || isNaN(units) || isNaN(volume) || units <= 0 || volume <= 0) { alert('Please enter valid numerical values. Total Insulin and Volume must be greater than zero.'); resultContainer.style.display = 'none'; return; } // Formula: (Dose / Total Units) * Total Volume var rate = (dose * volume) / units; // Format to 1 decimal place if not a whole number var formattedRate = (rate % 1 === 0) ? rate : rate.toFixed(1); resultText.innerText = formattedRate; resultContainer.style.display = 'block'; }

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