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