What it means
An instruction written on an order or label. It is abbreviated "ac", from the Latin ante cibum. Some drugs work best on an empty stomach or need to act before food arrives, such as some insulins taken right before meals and drugs that protect the stomach. Blood glucose checks are often ordered "ac and hs": before meals and at bedtime. The opposite is "pc", after meals.
For the nurse
Check how long before the meal the drug should be given, and time rapid-acting insulin with the meal tray so the client actually eats.
Remember it
A comes before C, and ante means before.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | ac (before meals, from ante cibum); pc (after meals) |
|---|---|
| Also written | before meals, ante cibum, AC, ac, a.c. |
Related terms
insulin
A hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.
blood glucose
The amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood at the time it is measured.