If a student requires 0.5 units of insulin per carbohydrate exchange and is about to eat 4 carbohydrate exchanges, how much insulin will the student need to inject?

To determine the amount of insulin needed, you start by recognizing the student's insulin requirement per carbohydrate exchange, which is 0.5 units. If the student will consume 4 carbohydrate exchanges, you can simply multiply the number of exchanges by the amount of insulin needed for each exchange.

Calculating this gives:

4 carbohydrate exchanges × 0.5 units of insulin per exchange = 2 units of insulin.

Thus, the student will need to inject 2 units of insulin to cover the 4 carbohydrate exchanges. This method of calculation is fundamental for diabetes management, especially for individuals who need to adjust their insulin based on carbohydrate intake, ensuring they maintain optimal blood glucose levels.