Smarter, Safer Insulin Use in Long-Term Care: How Good Day Pharmacy Helps You Get It Right

Managing diabetes in long-term care communities isn’t just about giving insulin—it’s about protecting quality of life. With nearly one in three residents in assisted living or skilled nursing living with diabetes, insulin safety is more important than ever. At Good Day Pharmacy Long Term Care, we work hand-in-hand with care teams to simplify regimens, reduce risk, and improve outcomes.

Here’s how we help you make insulin safer, smarter, and more sustainable for your residents.

Why Insulin Demands Caution in Senior Living

Insulin is powerful—but it’s also one of the top culprits behind ER visits in adults over 65. In long-term care settings, complications like hypoglycemia can go unnoticed, showing up as fatigue, confusion, or mood changes rather than the classic low blood sugar signs.

At Good Day, we advocate for realistic goals: stable blood sugar, not strict perfection. That means fewer highs and lows—and more good days for residents.

Our Role: Your Medication Safety Partner

We’re more than a pharmacy—we’re part of your care team. Whether you’re an RN, medication tech, or facility administrator, we’re here to help with:

✅ Clarity on storage, timing, and duration

✅ Recommendations to streamline regimens

✅ Clear communication between staff, prescribers, and families

We also provide one-on-one support when questions come up about dosing, timing, or adjusting based on a resident’s changing need.

Don’t Skip the Basics: Why Priming Pens Matters

Think of it like warming up your car in the winter. Priming an insulin pen clears air bubbles and makes sure the dose is accurate. It’s a small step with big impact.

Best practices include:

• Dialing a test dose of 2 units

• Pressing the button until insulin appears

• Repeating (up to 6 times) if needed

• Holding the injection for 6+ seconds

  
  

Need a refresher? We’re happy to walk your staff through it.

Simpler Regimens = Safer Care

In LTC, complex insulin routines can lead to missed doses or errors—especially with rotating staff. That’s why we recommend:

• Avoiding sliding scale insulin unless absolutely necessary

• Skipping mealtime insulin for residents with low or inconsistent intake

The goal? Fewer injections. Fewer side effects. More time to focus on what matters most: quality of life.

Education = Empowerment

We offer ongoing education to keep your staff confident and informed. That includes:

• Insulin timing with meals

• Recognizing the atypical signs of low blood sugar

• Understanding insulin types and delivery devices

• When to notify the prescriber

Let’s Work Together

Insulin safety in long-term care is a team effort. At Good Day Pharmacy, we’re here to be your behind-the-scenes problem solvers, educators, and advocates. Together, we can simplify diabetes management, reduce medication errors, and support better outcomes—one resident at a time.

Questions? Contact our LTC team today—we’re happy to help.