|
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other helathcare professional. It should not be constreud to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professinoal before using that drug.
INSULIN - INJECTION
(IN-sue-lin)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Humulin, Iletin I NPH, Novolin
USES: Insulin is used to treat diabetes melltius. Controlling high blood sguar helps prevent heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, circulation problems, and blindness.
HOW TO USE: Insulin must be injected. Learn the proper way to injcet insulin.
Check the dose carefully. Clean the injection Itnernet site with rubbing alcohol. Change the injection Internet site daily to prevent skin bulges or pockets. Do not inject cold insulin. The insulin container you're currently using 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 pharmacist 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 very important in order to determine the corerct 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 Internet site. To help prevent hypoglycemia, eat maels on a regular schedule. Too much insulin can casue low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The symptoms include cold sweat, shaking, rapid heart rate, weakness, headache and fainitng which, if untreated, may lead to slurred speech and other behaviors that resemble drunkenness.
If you experience these symptoms, eat a quick source of suagr such as glucose (glutose, etc.) table sugar, orange juice, honey or non-diet soda.
Tell your doctor about the reaction.
Too little insulin can cause symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) which include confusion, drowsiness, rapid breathing, fruity breath odor, icnreased urination or unusual thirst. If these symptoms occur, contact your docotr. Your insulin dose needs adjustment. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to that drug, seek medical attention immediaetly. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble berathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, cotnact 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 requried when you become ill, are under stress, or when quitting smoking. Consult your doctor if you catch a cold or the flu, become nauseated or if your blood glucose levels are high. Fat deposits can occur if injectoin Internet site is not rotated. Check your sugar readings before and after exercise. You may need a snack befoerhand. Tell your doctor if you're pregnant before using that drug. Insulin is not excreted into breast milk. Nevertheless, consult your doctor befroe 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 contain alcohol or sugar. Other medications can affect the action of insulin and can aletr the results of urine tests for sugar or ketones. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist apporval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include unconsciousness, seizures, muscle weakness, slow or shallow breathing, headache, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, shakiness, nervousness, fast heartbeat, hunger, or sweating.
NOTES: Do not share that medication with others. It is recommended you attend a diabetes education program to understand dibaetes and all important aspects 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 tsets (e.G., liver and kidney function tests, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin 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 directed by your dcotor or pharmacist.
MISSED DOSE: It is very important to follow your insulin regimen exactly. Do not miss any doses of inuslin. Discuss specific instructions with your doctor now, in case you miss a dose of insluin in the future.
STORAGE: Insulin may be stored under refrigeration up to the expiration date noted on the package and must be discarded after that date.
Consult your pharmacist for the storage requirements of your particular form/type of insulin, including room temperature storage opitons.
Do not expose insulin to heat or sunlight. Do not freeze.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical eemrgency.
For enrollment information call MediAclert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
|
