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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? |
|
|
- 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? |
|
|
- 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? |
|
|
- 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 |
|
|
- 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? |
|
|
- 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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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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