Insulin Drip Rate Calculator (units/hr)

Convert insulin infusion orders to units per hour from concentration and mL/hr pump rate.

Written by

Sid A. Abdala Balal

RGN · Medical & Nursing Content Author

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Adam Sayedi

MD · Emergency & Acute Medicine

⚠️ Safety note: High-risk: insulin infusions require local protocol, glucose monitoring, potassium monitoring, and prescriber/pharmacy verification — never titrate from a calculator alone.

Understanding this tool

Why nurses use it

Insulin infusions are ordered by units/hour but pumps run in mL/hr. Nurses convert between rate and concentration to verify DKA/HHS protocols and prevent dosing errors.

When to use it

Use when cross-checking an insulin infusion — always follow your unit’s insulin protocol with hourly glucose and potassium monitoring.

Calculate

How to use this calculator

Confirm units/mL in the bag/syringe actually hanging.
Enter pump mL/hr.
Verify units/hr against protocol titration table.

How the calculation works

Units/hr = mL/hr × units/mL. Simple rate × concentration conversion.

Units/hr = (mL/hr × units/mL)

Formula used by this tool — verify units before applying at the bedside.

Worked example

5 mL/hr of 1 unit/mL = 5 units/hr.

Limitations & clinical notes

Does not replace protocol-driven titration.
Verify bag concentration when new infusion prepared.

References

Key sources: DKA/HHS insulin infusion protocols.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational and bedside double-check purposes only. It does not replace institutional protocols, prescriber orders, pharmacist verification, or clinical judgment. Always follow your local policies — especially for high-risk medications, infusions, pediatrics, and critical care. If the patient is acutely unwell, escalate immediately rather than relying on any calculator output.