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Insulin Therapy

Why Do I Need to Take Insulin?

When you have diabetes, it means your pancreas no longer produces insulin. Insulin is

necessary to process the glucose that ends up in your bloodstream as a result of the food

you eat. So, since you cannot produce insulin on your own, you must get it from another

source.

GOAL:

Maintain blood sugar levels within your target range. It is dministered in the fat under your

skin using a syringe, insulin pen or insulin pump depending on factors including the type of

diabetes you have, how much your blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day and your

lifestyle.

Each insulin type is characterized by:

Onset how long it takes to begin working

!eak when it"s working the hardest

#uration how long it lasts

What Type o Insulin Is !est or "y Diabetes?$our doctor will work with you to prescribe the type of insulin that is best for you and yourdiabetes. #eciding what type of insulin might be best for you will depend on many factors,

including% $our body"s individuali&ed response to insulin 'how long it takes insulin to be absorbed in the

body and remain active in the body varies slightly from person to person(. $our own lifestyle choices )) for instance, the type of food you eat, if*how much alcohol you

drink, or how much e+ercise you get )) are all factors that influence your body"s processing of insulin.

ow willing you are to give yourself multiple in-ections per day.

ow freuently you are willing to check your blood sugar level.

$our age.

$our blood sugar management goals.

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Type of Insulin/ 0rand 1ames

Onset !eak #uration 2ole in 0lood Sugar Management

2apid)3cting

umalog or

lispro

45)67

min.67)87 min 6)5 hours

2apid)acting insulin covers insulin needs for

meals eaten at the same time as the in-ection.This type of insulin is used with longer)actinginsulin.1ovolog or

aspart47)97min.

:7)57 min. 6)5 hours

3pidra orglulisine

97)67min.

67)87 min.4)9;hours

Short)3cting

2egular '2(humulin ornovolin

67 min.)4 hour

9)5 hours 5)< hoursShort)acting insulin covers insulin needs formeals eaten within 67)=7 minutes

>elosulin 'for

use in theinsulin pump(

67 min.)4 hour 9)6 hours 9)6 hours

Intermediate)3cting

1! '1(4)9hours

:)49 hours4

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#apid actin$ insulins) $ou should self)in-ect about 47 minutes before mealtime.%hort&actin$ insulins&Such as regular insulin, should be taken 67 to =7 minutes before a meal.Intermediate)acting insulins should be taken up to 4 hour prior to a meal.'re&(i)ed insulins)!remi+ed solutions should be taken 47 minutes or 67 to :5 minutes before

mealtime.

E)ceptions to Insulin Dosin$ and Ti(in$

In-ections of long)acting insulins are not DtimedD to mealtime because of their long duration of

action. ?antus is only administered once a day 'and should be administered at the same time each

day(. Eeep in mind that these long)acting insulins may need to be given with shorter)actinginsulin products ))depending on your individual situation )) that will likely need to be DtimedDwith mealtime.

Finally, the rapid)acting products can also be taken immediately after a meal 'rather than 45

minutes before mealtime(. Some products can also be administered at bedtime.

Insulin Ad(inistration Tips

1. Wash your hands.

2. *hoose the in+ection siteG do not use the same area and always rotate the area for less painand easy distribution of medicine 'insulin(. The main in-ecting sites are the abdomen, thighs, andback of the upper arms. The abdomen is most commonly usedA it is easy to reach, and the insulinis best absorbed. #o not choose a site too close to moles or scars.

3. "edicine te(perature) always keep the usable medicine at room temperature, becausein-ecting refrigerated medicine can be painful. Furthermore, insulin stay well for one month atroom temperature without refrigeration, as long as the room temperature is under

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16. 'ull out the e(pty syrin$e $ently. !ress the in-ection site for some seconds to prevent insulinleak out.

17. Massage gently the in-ected site for better distribution and absorption of medicine.

Where %hould I In+ect "y Insulin?Where you in-ect your insulin has an effect on how uickly it goes to work in your body. For

e+ample, insulin in-ected into your abdomen works faster than when you in-ect it into yourthigh or buttock. Its usually preferable to in-ect the insulin in the same muscle group each timeso you can predict speed of delivery. !ut it is i(portant that you rotate the e)act location othe in+ection to a1oid de1elopin$ lu(ps under the skin2

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E3A"'LE% O/ IN%-LIN and IN%-LIN AD"INI%T#ATION

Insulin Example

Insulin 'en 4Apidra 4short actin$ insulin5 and Lantus 4lon$

actin$ insulin55

Tuberculin Syringe

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Parts of Insulin Pen

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