________________________________________________________________________
KEY POINTS
- Insulin may be used to control blood (sugar) glucose if you have diabetes.
- The main types of insulin are rapid acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and pre-mixed. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a combination of different types of insulin to treat your diabetes and to match your eating schedule and lifestyle.
- Make sure you know how and when to take your medicine. Do not take more or less than you are supposed to take.
- Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist what side effects the medicine may cause and what you should do if you have side effects.
________________________________________________________________________
What is insulin used for?
Insulin may be used to treat diabetes by controlling blood (sugar) glucose levels. It is a hormone normally made by the pancreas, which is an organ in your upper belly. Your body uses insulin to help move glucose from the blood into the cells, where it is used for energy.
Diabetes is caused by a problem with the way your body makes or uses insulin. When your body does not have enough insulin or has trouble using insulin, glucose cannot get into your cells. Instead, it stays in the blood. Too much glucose in the blood can damage the blood vessels and organs.
- If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin and you need to take insulin shots.
- If you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or your body is not able to use it well. You may be able to control your blood glucose levels through a mix of healthy food choices, physical activity, and weight loss. And you may take medicines by mouth to help your body make more insulin or to use the insulin you do make. In some cases, you may need to take insulin.
You need the right kind of insulin at the right times during the day. The amount and kind of insulin is very important. If you take too much insulin or take it at the wrong time, or forget a dose, you could have a serious or life-threatening low blood glucose reaction. If you don’t take enough insulin, glucose from digested food will stay in your blood, and your blood glucose will get too high.
How does it work?
Your body needs insulin to move glucose from the blood into the cells, where it is burned for energy. Your body cannot turn glucose into energy without insulin. If insulin is not available, glucose from digested food builds up in the blood. Insulin controls high blood glucose but does not cure diabetes.
The main types of insulin are:
- Rapid acting insulin that starts to work in 10 to 20 minutes and lasts up to 5 hours
- Intermediate-acting insulin that starts to work in 1 to 3 hours and lasts up to 16 hours
- Long-acting insulin that starts to work in 1 to 2 hours and lasts 26 hours
- Pre-mixed insulin that is mix of insulin types
Your healthcare provider may prescribe a combination of different types of insulin to treat your diabetes and to match your eating schedule and lifestyle.
Continue to use insulin even if you feel well. Do not stop using insulin without talking to your health care provider. Do not switch to another brand or type of insulin or change the dose of any type of insulin you use without talking to your health care provider.
Insulin comes in vials, prefilled disposable dosing devices, and cartridges. The cartridges are designed to be placed in dosing pens. Be sure you know what type of container your insulin comes in and what other supplies, such as needles, syringes, or pens, you will need to take the medication. Make sure that the name and letter on your insulin are exactly what your healthcare provider prescribed.
What else do I need to know about this medicine?
- Follow the directions that come with your medicine, including information about how you should use it in relationship to food or alcohol. Make sure you know how and when you need to take the medicine. You should not take more or less than you are supposed to take.
- Try to get all of your prescriptions filled at the same place. Your pharmacist can help make sure that all of your medicines are safe to take together.
- Keep a list of your medicines with you. List all of the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all of the products you take.
- Many medicines have side effects. A side effect is a symptom or problem that is caused by the medicine. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist what side effects the medicine may cause and what you should do if you have side effects. This medication causes changes in your blood glucose level. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood glucose and what to do if you have these symptoms.
- Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about where on the body to inject insulin. You can inject your insulin in the stomach, upper arm, upper leg, or buttocks. Use a chart to keep track of the sites used.
- If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.
Developed by RelayHealth.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2016 RelayHealth, a division of McKesson Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.