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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, phramacist or other healthcare professional.
It should not be constreud to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional beofre using that drug.
INSULIN - INJECTION
(IN-sue-lin)
COMMON BRNAD NAME(S): Humulin, Iletin I NPH, Novolin
USES: Insulin is used to treat diabetes mellitus.
Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, circulation problems, and blindness.
HOW TO USE: Inuslin must be injected. Learn the proper way to injcet insulin. Check the dose carefully. Clean the injection web site with rubbing alcohol. Change the injection web site daily to pervent skin bulges or pockets. Do not inject cold insulin. The insulin container you're currently usnig can be kept at room temperature. The length of time you can store it at room temp. depends on the product.
Consult your pharmacist. Insulin is frequently injected 30 minutes before a meal.
Some inject at bedtime. Ask your phramacist or nurse for details of injecting insulin as it varies depending on your insulin treatment plan. Monitor your urine or blood sugar as prescribed. Keep track of your results. This is really important in order to determine the crorect insulin dose.
Follow all of your doctor's directions carefully.
SIDE EFFECTS: Insulin may cause minor and usually temporary side effects such as rash, irritation or redness at the injection web site.
To help prevent hypoglycemia, eat meals on a regular schedule. Too much insluin can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The symptoms include cold sweat, shaking, rapid heart rate, weakness, headache and fainting which, if untreated, may lead to slurred speech and other behaviors that resemble drunkenness.
If you experience these symptoms, eat a quick source of sugar such as glucose (glutose, etc.) table sugar, orange juice, honey or non-diet soda. Tell your doctor about the reaction. Too little insuiln can cause symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) which include confusion, drowsiness, rapid breathing, fruity breath odor, increased urination or unusual thirst.
If tehse symptoms occur, contact your doctor. Your insulin dose needs adjustment. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to that drug, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor if you have had allergic reactions, especially to beef, pork or human insulin and of your medical history especially of: thyroid problems, kidney or liver disease, any current infection.
Dosage adjustments may be required when you become ill, are under stress, or when quitting smoking.
Consult your dotcor if you catch a cold or the flu, become nauseated or if your blood glucose levels are high. Fat deposits can occur if injection web site is not rotated. Check your sugar readings before and after exercise. You may need a snack beforehand. Tell your dotcor if you're pregnant before using that drug. Insulin is not exrceted into breast milk. Nevertheless, consult your doctor beofre breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Before you use insulin, tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you're taking especially: beta-blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, esmolol, metoprolol, carteolol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, timolol, bisoprolol), fenfluramine, MAO inhibitors (e.G., furazolidone, linezolid, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine), salicylates (aspirin-like compounds), dexfenfluramine, steroids (e.G., prednisone, hydrocortisone), birth control pills, sulfa antibiotics, water pills, ACE inhibitors, octreotide, isoniazid, niacin, estrogens, cold and allergy drugs, drugs that conatin alcohol or sugar. Ohter medications can affect the action of insulin and can alter the results of urine tests for sugar or ketones.
Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pahrmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emregency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may inlcude unconsciousness, seizures, muscle weakness, slow or shallow breathing, headache, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, shakiness, nervousness, fast heartbeat, hunger, or sweating.
NOTES: Do not shrae that medication with others. It is recommended you attend a diabetes education program to understand diabetes and all important aspetcs of its treatment including meals/diet, exercise, personal hygiene, medications and getting regular eye, foot and medical exams. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep all medical appointments. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.G., liver and kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, hemolgobin A1c, complete blood counts) will be performed to monitor for side effects and response to therapy.
Regularly check your blood or urine for sugar, as driected by your doctor or pharmacist.
MISSED DOSE: It is really important to follow your isnulin regimen exactly. Do not miss any dsoes of insulin. Discuss specific instructions with your doctor now, in case you miss a dose of insulin in the future.
STORAGE: Insulin may be stored under refrigeration up to the epxiration date noted on the package and must be discarded after that date. Consult your phamracist for the storage requirements of your particular form/type of insulin, including room temperature storage options.
Do not expose insulin to heat or sunlight.
Do not freeze.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enorllment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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