What type of insulin is used to control glucose levels in clients with diabetes mellitus?

NPH insulin, which stands for Neutral Protamine Hagedorn insulin, is an intermediate-acting insulin that is often used in managing diabetes mellitus. This type of insulin is characterized by its ability to provide a prolonged duration of action, typically spanning from 10 to 16 hours, which helps in controlling blood glucose levels throughout the day, especially between meals and during the night.

The distinctive aspect of NPH insulin is that it is mixed with protamine, which delays the absorption of insulin into the bloodstream. This delayed action enables NPH to maintain stable blood glucose levels over a longer period of time, making it particularly useful for clients who need basal insulin coverage. It is often used in conjunction with rapid-acting insulin to manage postprandial blood glucose spikes.

In contrast, while regular insulin is a short-acting insulin that can be used to manage diabetes, it acts more quickly but does not last as long as NPH. Long-acting insulins provide a stable background level of insulin, but they might not fit all patient needs as effectively as NPH in terms of flexibility with meal timing. Combination insulin includes both rapid and intermediate actions but does not specifically highlight the sustained background coverage that NPH provides individually.

Thus, NPH