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| Pronunciation |
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 (IN
su lin prep a RAY
shuns) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Humalog®; Humalog® Mix
50/50™; Humalog® Mix
75/25™; Humulin® 50/50; Humulin® 70/30;
Humulin® L; Humulin® N; Humulin® R; Humulin®
Ultralente; Lantus®; Lente® Iletin®
II; Lente® Insulin; Lente® L; Novolin® 70/30;
Novolin® L; Novolin® N; Novolin® R;
NovoLog™; NPH Iletin® I; NPH-N; Pork NPH Iletin® II;
Pork Regular Iletin® II; Regular (Concentrated) Iletin® II
U-500; Regular Iletin® I; Velosulin® BR Human
(Buffered) |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Insulina Lenta® (Mexico); Insulina
NPH® (Mexico); Insulina Regular®
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antidiabetic Agent (Insulin); Antidote |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to manage blood sugar in a patient who has
diabetes mellitus (DM) (type 1 and sometimes, type 2).
- For type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin can be used alone or in
combination with other diabetes medicine.
- Pregnant women with diabetes caused by pregnancy, who are not
controlled by diet alone, may require
insulin.
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| How does it work? |
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- Insulin is a hormone necessary for the body's use of food, especially
sugar. Type 1 diabetics have no insulin of their own and require complete
replacement. Type 2 diabetics still make insulin, but may require an outside
source if their blood sugars are very elevated. Sometimes only short-term use of
this medicine is needed for type 2
diabetes.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take exactly as directed, by needle, into the fat stores of the skin.
Talk to healthcare provider for complete education.
- Follow diabetic diet recommended by healthcare provider.
- Throw away needles in red box and return box to healthcare provider
when full.
- Start eating within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting
NovoLog™
insulin.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Talk with healthcare
provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Wear disease medical alert identification for diabetes.
- Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause low
blood sugar. This is most common if you miss a meal.
- Keep hard candies, liquid glucose, or milk on hand for low blood
sugars.
- If you are 80 years of age or older, you may be more sensitive to low
blood sugars (more confusion).
- Do not drive if blood sugar has been low. There is a greater risk of
an accident.
- Increases in exercise can decrease insulin needs (be consistent).
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding. Insulin dose may
change.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Low blood sugar. This can cause anger, shaking, rapid heartbeats,
confusion, sweating. Can be life-threatening if not treated with hard candies,
liquid glucose, milk.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Weight gain (seen in type 2
diabetics).
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare provider. Call if glucose
is less than 80 mg/dL or greater than 250 mg/dL. Bring results to follow-up
visits.
- Watch for low blood sugar. This can cause anger, shaking, rapid
heartbeats, confusion, sweating.
- Watch for high blood sugar. Causes many trips to the bathroom, thirst,
and weight loss.
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
- Have an eye exam and visit to the foot doctor every year.
- Check weight.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Any signs or symptoms of infection. This may include a fever greater
than 99 degrees, chills, sore throat, cough, increased sputum or change in
color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, anal itching or
pain.
- Low blood sugar or very high blood sugar.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Check insulin's expiration date (on box and vial). If expired, do not
use.
- Unopened vials should be refrigerated. Do not freeze.
- Opened vials can be stored at room temperature. Store away from direct
light and extreme temperatures.
- Opened vials should be thrown away after 1
month.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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