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