What type of insulin should the nurse anticipate using for a client with suspected diabetic ketoacidosis?

In cases of suspected diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the most appropriate type of insulin to use is regular insulin. This is because regular insulin is a short-acting insulin that can be administered intravenously, providing rapid onset of action. The quick action of regular insulin is crucial for managing DKA, as it allows for effective and prompt control of blood glucose levels and helps to reduce the elevated ketone bodies in the blood.

In DKA, patients often present with significantly high blood glucose levels and metabolic acidosis, and the goal of treatment is to not only lower blood glucose but also to correct the acidosis. The use of regular insulin allows for continuous infusion, enabling tight regulation of glucose levels, and is widely regarded as the standard of care for this condition in acute settings.

Other types of insulin, such as NPH insulin, insulin glargine, and insulin detemir, are not appropriate for DKA management. NPH is an intermediate-acting insulin that does not provide the rapid effect needed to address the acute changes in DKA. Insulin glargine and insulin detemir are long-acting insulins, which do not have the immediate action required in an emergency situation like DKA. These long-acting