new treatments for diabetic retinopathy

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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Carry a piece of candy or glucose tablets with you to treatepisodes of low blood sugar new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Insulin aspart differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it beginsto work and the amount of time it continues to be effective new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Because insulinaspart begins to work soon after it is injected, the injection of insulin aspartshould immediately be followed by a meal new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Because of the short amount of timethat insulin aspart continues to be effective, a longer-acting insulin may alsobe required new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Do not change the brand of insulin aspart or syringe that you are usingwithout first talking to your doctor or pharmacist new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Some brands of insulin aspartand syringes are interchangeable, while others are not new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Your doctor and/or pharmacistknow which brands can be substituted for one another new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

What is insulin aspart?
• Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Insulin enablesthe body to use the sugar in food as a source of energy new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. When the body doesnot produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced by the body is noteffective enough, the condition is called diabetes mellitus new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. This conditionallows sugar levels in the blood to become very high new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• There are three types of insulin, which differ in how soon they beginto work and how long their effects last new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Insulin aspart is one type of insulinthat begins to work very quickly and its effects that last for approximately3 to 5 hours new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Insulin aspart is usually used in combination with another longer-actinginsulin new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Insulin aspart may also be used for purposes other than those listedin this medication guide new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Before using insulin aspart, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liverdisease new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Insulin aspart is in the FDA pregnancy category C new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. This means that itis not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Do not use this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• It is not known whether insulin aspart passes into breast milk new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Do notuse this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

How should I use insulin aspart?
• Use insulin aspart exactly as directed by your doctor new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. If you do notunderstand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explainthem to you new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Insulin aspart differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it beginsto work and the amount of time it continues to be effective new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Because insulinaspart begins to work soon after it is injected, the injection of insulin aspartshould immediately be followed by a meal new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Because of the short amount of timethat insulin aspart continues to be effective, a longer-acting insulin may alsobe required new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Insulin aspart is usually used immediately before a meal (a meal shouldbe started within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting the medication) new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Follow yourdoctor's instructions new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Rotate injection sites as directed by your doctor new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Usually, you shouldnot inject within 1 inch of the same site within 1 month new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. The syringes used must not contain anyother medicinal product or residue new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Dispose of all needles and syringes in anappropriate, puncture-resistant disposal container new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Do not change the insulin strength (e.g., U-100) or insulin type (e.g.,aspart) unless your doctor recommends a change for you new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Do not change the brand of insulin aspart or syringe that you are usingwithout first talking to your doctor or pharmacist new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Some brands of insulin andsyringes are interchangeable, while others are not new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Your doctor and/or pharmacistknow which brands can be substituted for one another new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• To adequately control diabetes, proper foot care, eye care, dental care,and overall proper health care are necessary new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Visit your doctor, dentist, eyedoctor, and other heath care practitioners as recommended by your doctor new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Do not use any insulin that is discolored, looks thick, has particlesin it, or looks different from your previous bottles or cartridges of insulinaspart new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Store unopened bottles and cartridges of insulin aspart in the refrigeratorbetween 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius) new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Do not storeinsulin aspart in the freezer and do not allow it to freeze new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Do not use insulinaspart if it has been frozen new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Throw away any expired insulin aspart new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Follow your doctor's directions if you miss a dose of insulin new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. To preventmissed doses, be sure to always have enough insulin on hand, especially if youare going on vacation new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

What should I avoid while using insulin aspart?
• Do not use alcohol without first talking to your doctor new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. It lowers bloodsugar, and you may experience dangerously low blood sugar levels new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

What are the possible side effects of insulin aspart?
• Rarely, people have allergic reactions to insulin new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Seek emergency medicalattention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closingof your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives) new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• The side effects of insulin therapy result mostly from blood sugar levelsthat are either too high or too low new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. You should be familiar with the symptomsof both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, has the following symptoms: shaking,headache, cold sweats, pale, cool skin, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Keep sugary candy; fruit juice; or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodesof low blood sugar new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, has the following symptoms: increasedthirst, increased hunger, and increased urination new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels and ask your doctor how to adjust yourinsulin doses if your blood sugar levels are too high new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Side effects may also occur at the site of injection new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. If the area becomesthickened, hard, or pitted, talk to your doctor before injecting at that siteagain new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

What other drugs will affect insulin aspart?
• Many drugs can interact with insulin or affect blood sugar levels new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. 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 new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about insulin aspart writtenfor health professionals that you may read new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

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