Insulin Drug Information

Insulin is a naturally-occurring hormone secreted by the pancreas. Insulin is required by the cells of the body in order for them to remove and use glucose from the blood. From glucose the cells produce the energy that they need to carry out their functions. Patients with diabetes mellitus have an inability to take up and use glucose from the blood, and, as a result, the glucose level in the blood rises. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Therefore, insulin therapy is needed. In type 2 diabetes, patients produce insulin, but cells throughout the body do not respond normally to the insulin. Nevertheless, insulin also may be used in type 2 diabetes to overcome the resistance of the cells to insulin. By increasing the uptake of glucose by cells and reducing the concentration of glucose in the blood, insulin prevents or reduces the long-term complications of diabetes, including damage to the blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
What is the most important information I should know about insulin aspart?
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremor, and nausea. Carry a piece of candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctor or nurse. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amount of insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu, or fever. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements.
• Insulin aspart differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it begins to work and the amount of time it continues to be effective. Because insulin aspart begins to work soon after it is injected, the injection of insulin aspart should immediately be followed by a meal. Because of the short amount of time that insulin aspart continues to be effective, a longer-acting insulin may also be required.
• Do not change the brand of insulin aspart or syringe that you are using without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Some brands of insulin aspart and syringes are interchangeable, while others are not. Your doctor and/or pharmacist know which brands can be substituted for one another.
What is insulin aspart?
• Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas. Insulin enables the body to use the sugar in food as a source of energy. When the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced by the body is not effective enough, the condition is called diabetes mellitus. This condition allows sugar levels in the blood to become very high. Diabetics must use man-made insulin or insulin that comes from pigs (which is very similar to human insulin) to lower these high blood sugar levels.
• There are three types of insulin, which differ in how soon they begin to work and how long their effects last. Insulin aspart is one type of insulin that begins to work very quickly and its effects that last for approximately 3 to 5 hours. Insulin aspart is usually used in combination with another longer-acting insulin.
• Insulin aspart may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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 have an intolerance of a certain insulin aspart product.
• Before using insulin aspart, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease. You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
• Insulin aspart is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether insulin aspart passes into breast milk. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I use insulin aspart?
• Use insulin aspart exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.
• Insulin aspart differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it begins to work and the amount of time it continues to be effective. Because insulin aspart begins to work soon after it is injected, the injection of insulin aspart should immediately be followed by a meal. Because of the short amount of time that insulin aspart continues to be effective, a longer-acting insulin may also be required.
• Insulin aspart is usually used immediately before a meal (a meal should be started within 5 to 10 minutes after injecting the medication). Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Rotate injection sites as directed by your doctor. Usually, you should not inject within 1 inch of the same site within 1 month.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe. The syringes used must not contain any other medicinal product or residue. Dispose of all needles and syringes in an appropriate, puncture-resistant disposal container.
• Do not change the insulin strength (e.g., U-100) or insulin type (e.g., aspart) unless your doctor recommends a change for you.
• Do not change the brand of insulin aspart or syringe that you are using without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Some brands of insulin and syringes are interchangeable, while others are not. Your doctor and/or pharmacist know which brands can be substituted for one another.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctor or nurse. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amount of insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu, or fever. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements.
• Wear some type of medical identification bracelet, necklace, or other alert tag to inform others that you have diabetes and that you require insulin in the case of an emergency.
• To adequately control diabetes, proper foot care, eye care, dental care, and overall proper health care are necessary. Visit your doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and other heath care practitioners as recommended by your doctor.
• Do not use any insulin that is discolored, looks thick, has particles in it, or looks different from your previous bottles or cartridges of insulin aspart.
• Store unopened bottles and cartridges of insulin aspart in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius). Do not store insulin aspart in the freezer and do not allow it to freeze. Do not use insulin aspart if it has been frozen. Throw away any expired insulin aspart.
• Vials or cartridges of insulin aspart in use can be kept unrefrigerated at room temperature, below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), for up to 28 days but should not be exposed to excessive heat or sunlight.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Follow your doctor's directions if you miss a dose of insulin. To prevent missed doses, be sure to always have enough insulin on hand, especially if you are going on vacation.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of an insulin overdose reflect very low blood sugar levels and include headache, irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate or pulse, sweating, tremor, nausea, increased hunger, and anxiety.
What should I avoid while using insulin aspart?
• Do not use alcohol without first talking to your doctor. It lowers blood sugar, and you may experience dangerously low blood sugar levels.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctor or nurse. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amount of insulin that you need to control blood sugar levels.
What are the possible side effects of insulin aspart?
• Rarely, people have allergic reactions to insulin. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
• The side effects of insulin therapy result mostly from blood sugar levels that are either too high or too low. You should be familiar with the symptoms of both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.
• Low blood sugar may occur when too much insulin is used; when meals are missed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especially with vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol; and in other situations.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, has the following symptoms: shaking, headache, cold sweats, pale, cool skin, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
• Keep sugary candy; fruit juice; or glucose tablets on hand to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Increased blood sugar may occur if not enough insulin is used, if you eat significantly more food then usual, if you exercise less than usual, if you take other medications, if you have a fever or other illness, and in other situations.
• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, has the following symptoms: increased thirst, increased hunger, and increased urination.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels and ask your doctor how to adjust your insulin doses if your blood sugar levels are too high.
• Side effects may also occur at the site of injection. If the area becomes thickened, hard, or pitted, talk to your doctor before injecting at that site again.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect insulin aspart?
• Many drugs can interact with insulin or affect blood sugar levels. Do not take any other medicines, including prescription products or over-the-counter medicines or supplements, without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist during treatment with insulin.