A patient is prescribed rapid-acting insulin lispro to manage postprandial blood glucose levels. Based on its pharmacokinetics, when should the nurse educate the patient to monitor for a peak effect of this medication?

Rationale: A. A 4-hour peak is more characteristic of long-acting insulin preparations, not rapid-acting insulin. Monitoring for hypoglycemia at this time would not align with the medication’s pharmacokinetics. B. Rapid-acting insulin, such as insulin lispro, has a quick onset of 10–30 minutes, peaks at approximately 30–90 minutes (around 1 hour), and lasts 3–5 hours. Educating the patient to monitor for hypoglycemia around the 1-hour mark after injection is essential because this is when the insulin’s blood-glucose-lowering effect is greatest, especially following meals. C. Although rapid-acting insulin begins working within 10–30 minutes, its peak effect occurs later, around 1 hour. Monitoring at 15 minutes may be too early to detect peak hypoglycemia risk. D. The insulin does not have an immediate peak effect; its onset is rapid but not instantaneous. Immediate post-injection monitoring would not correspond to the highest risk period for hypoglycemia.