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