american diabetes assoc
(IN suh lin AH spart)
NovoLog
What is the most important information I should know about insulin aspart?
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), whichinclude headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,tremor, and nausea american diabetes assoc. Carry a piece of candy or glucose tablets with you to treatepisodes of low blood sugar american diabetes assoc.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse american diabetes assoc. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels american diabetes assoc.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever american diabetes assoc. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements american diabetes assoc.
• Insulin aspart differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it beginsto work and the amount of time it continues to be effective american diabetes assoc. Because insulinaspart begins to work soon after it is injected, the injection of insulin aspartshould immediately be followed by a meal american diabetes assoc. Because of the short amount of timethat insulin aspart continues to be effective, a longer-acting insulin may alsobe required american diabetes assoc.
• Do not change the brand of insulin aspart or syringe that you are usingwithout first talking to your doctor or pharmacist american diabetes assoc. Some brands of insulin aspartand syringes are interchangeable, while others are not american diabetes assoc. Your doctor and/or pharmacistknow which brands can be substituted for one another american diabetes assoc.
What is insulin aspart?
• Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas american diabetes assoc. Insulin enablesthe body to use the sugar in food as a source of energy american diabetes assoc. When the body doesnot produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced by the body is noteffective enough, the condition is called diabetes mellitus american diabetes assoc. This conditionallows sugar levels in the blood to become very high american diabetes assoc. Diabetics must use man-madeinsulin or insulin that comes from pigs (which is very similar to human insulin)to lower these high blood sugar levels american diabetes assoc.
• There are three types of insulin, which differ in how soon they beginto work and how long their effects last american diabetes assoc. Insulin aspart is one type of insulinthat begins to work very quickly and its effects that last for approximately3 to 5 hours american diabetes assoc. Insulin aspart is usually used in combination with another longer-actinginsulin american diabetes assoc.
• Insulin aspart may also be used for purposes other than those listedin this medication guide american diabetes assoc.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using insulin aspart?
• Do not use insulin aspart if you are allergic to insulin or if you havean intolerance of a certain insulin aspart product american diabetes assoc.
• Before using insulin aspart, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liverdisease american diabetes assoc. You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment american diabetes assoc.
• Insulin aspart is in the FDA pregnancy category C american diabetes assoc. This means that itis not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby american diabetes assoc. Do not use this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment american diabetes assoc.
• It is not known whether insulin aspart passes into breast milk american diabetes assoc. Do notuse this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby american diabetes assoc.
How should I use insulin aspart?
• Use insulin aspart exactly as directed by your doctor american diabetes assoc. If you do notunderstand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explainthem to you american diabetes assoc.
• Insulin aspart differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it beginsto work and the amount of time it continues to be effective american diabetes assoc. Because insulinaspart begins to work soon after it is injected, the injection of insulin aspartshould immediately be followed by a meal american diabetes assoc. Because of the short amount of timethat insulin aspart continues to be effective, a longer-acting insulin may alsobe required american diabetes assoc.
• Insulin aspart is usually used immediately before a meal (a meal shouldbe started within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting the medication) american diabetes assoc. Follow yourdoctor's instructions american diabetes assoc.
• Rotate injection sites as directed by your doctor american diabetes assoc. Usually, you shouldnot inject within 1 inch of the same site within 1 month american diabetes assoc.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe american diabetes assoc. The syringes used must not contain anyother medicinal product or residue american diabetes assoc. Dispose of all needles and syringes in anappropriate, puncture-resistant disposal container american diabetes assoc.
• Do not change the insulin strength (e.g., U-100) or insulin type (e.g.,aspart) unless your doctor recommends a change for you american diabetes assoc.
• Do not change the brand of insulin aspart or syringe that you are usingwithout first talking to your doctor or pharmacist american diabetes assoc. Some brands of insulin andsyringes are interchangeable, while others are not american diabetes assoc. Your doctor and/or pharmacistknow which brands can be substituted for one another american diabetes assoc.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse american diabetes assoc. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels american diabetes assoc.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever american diabetes assoc. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements american diabetes assoc.
• Wear some type of medical identification bracelet, necklace, or otheralert tag to inform others that you have diabetes and that you require insulinin the case of an emergency american diabetes assoc.
• To adequately control diabetes, proper foot care, eye care, dental care,and overall proper health care are necessary american diabetes assoc. Visit your doctor, dentist, eyedoctor, and other heath care practitioners as recommended by your doctor american diabetes assoc.
• Do not use any insulin that is discolored, looks thick, has particlesin it, or looks different from your previous bottles or cartridges of insulinaspart american diabetes assoc.
• Store unopened bottles and cartridges of insulin aspart in the refrigeratorbetween 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius) american diabetes assoc. Do not storeinsulin aspart in the freezer and do not allow it to freeze american diabetes assoc. Do not use insulinaspart if it has been frozen american diabetes assoc. Throw away any expired insulin aspart american diabetes assoc.
• Vials or cartridges of insulin aspart in use can be kept unrefrigeratedat room temperature, below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), for upto 28 days but should not be exposed to excessive heat or sunlight american diabetes assoc.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Follow your doctor's directions if you miss a dose of insulin american diabetes assoc. To preventmissed doses, be sure to always have enough insulin on hand, especially if youare going on vacation american diabetes assoc.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention american diabetes assoc.
• Symptoms of an insulin overdose reflect very low blood sugar levels andinclude headache, irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate or pulse, sweating,tremor, nausea, increased hunger, and anxiety american diabetes assoc.
What should I avoid while using insulin aspart?
• Do not use alcohol without first talking to your doctor american diabetes assoc. It lowers bloodsugar, and you may experience dangerously low blood sugar levels american diabetes assoc.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse american diabetes assoc. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels american diabetes assoc.
What are the possible side effects of insulin aspart?
• Rarely, people have allergic reactions to insulin american diabetes assoc. Seek emergency medicalattention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closingof your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives) american diabetes assoc.
• The side effects of insulin therapy result mostly from blood sugar levelsthat are either too high or too low american diabetes assoc. You should be familiar with the symptomsof both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions american diabetes assoc. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency american diabetes assoc.
• Low blood sugar may occur when too much insulin is used; when meals aremissed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especiallywith vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol;and in other situations american diabetes assoc.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, has the following symptoms: shaking,headache, cold sweats, pale, cool skin, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating american diabetes assoc.
• Keep sugary candy; fruit juice; or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodesof low blood sugar american diabetes assoc.
• Increased blood sugar may occur if not enough insulin is used, if youeat significantly more food then usual, if you exercise less than usual, ifyou take other medications, if you have a fever or other illness, and in othersituations american diabetes assoc.
• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, has the following symptoms: increasedthirst, increased hunger, and increased urination american diabetes assoc.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels and ask your doctor how to adjust yourinsulin doses if your blood sugar levels are too high american diabetes assoc.
• Side effects may also occur at the site of injection american diabetes assoc. If the area becomesthickened, hard, or pitted, talk to your doctor before injecting at that siteagain american diabetes assoc.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur american diabetes assoc. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome american diabetes assoc.
What other drugs will affect insulin aspart?
• Many drugs can interact with insulin or affect blood sugar levels american diabetes assoc. Donot take any other medicines, including prescription products or over-the-countermedicines or supplements, without first talking to your doctor or pharmacistduring treatment with insulin american diabetes assoc.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about insulin aspart writtenfor health professionals that you may read american diabetes assoc.
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