Disposal Of Used Insulin Syringes
Used syringes, pen needles, cannulas and lancets must be disposed of in an Australian Standards-approved sharps container, which is puncture-proof and has a secure lid. These containers are usually yellow and are available through pharmacies, local municipal councils and state or territory diabetes organisations such as Diabetes Victoria.
Procedures to dispose of sharps containers vary from state to state.
For sharps disposal information and help, you can contact:
- state or territory diabetes organisations, such as Diabetes Victoria
- state Department of Health
Insulin needs to be stored correctly. This includes:
- Store unopened insulin on its side in a fridge.
- Keep the fridge temperature between 2 and 8 °C.
- Make sure that insulin does not freeze.
- Once opened, keep it at room temperature for not more than one month and then dispose of it safely.
- Avoid keeping insulin in direct sunlight.
Extreme temperatures can damage insulin so it doesn’t work properly. It must not be left where temperatures are over 30 °C. In summer your car can get this hot so don’t leave your insulin there.
There are various insulated insulin carry bags available for transporting insulin.
How Long Does Lantus 10ml Multiple Dose Vial Last Once I Have Started Using It
The Lantus 10mL multiple dose vials expiry, once you have started using it, is 28 days. If you are on a low dose then one Lantus 10mL multiple dose vial may contain more than 28 days worth of insulin. In this case it is important to remember to discard the remaining Lantus 10mL multiple dose vial 28 days after you have started using it, even if it still contains insulin.
Once you have started using Lantus 10ml multiple dose vial it can be kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
How Long Does Lantus Solostar Last Once I Have Started Using It
The Lantus SoloStar pens expiry, once you have started using it, is 28 days. If you are on a low dose then one Lantus SoloStar pen may contain more than 28 days worth of insulin. In this case it is important to remember to discard the remaining Lantus SoloStar pen 28 days after you have started using it, even if it still contains insulin.
Once you have started using Lantus SoloStar it should be kept at room temperature and NOT in the refrigerator.
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What Are Alternative Medications For People With Diabetes That Arent Insulin
- Metformin a pill that stops sugar production in the liver
- Glitazones pills that remove sugar from the bloodstream
- Sufonylureas and glinides pills that increase the release of insulin from your pancreas
- Starch blockers pills that slow starch absorption
- Incretin therapies and amvlin analogs pills and injections that reduce sugar production in the liver and slow food absorption. Types of the former include DPP4 inhibitors and GLP1 analogs .
- SGLT2 inhibitors pills that are taken before meals that prevent the reabsorption of glucose
The Difference Between Fast
Just like any drug, insulin has its activity profile that is measured in three numbers which include onset, peak, and duration. These are also known as the characteristics of insulin and they help to know the differences between fast-acting insulin and slow-acting insulin.
Fast-acting insulin is used due to its fast peak. The insulin acts within a short time to reduce the level of sugar in the blood. Slow-acting insulin, on the other hand, is preferred for its long duration. Its effect in reducing the level of sugar in the blood lasts for several hours.
If you have insulin problems and it needs to be taken frequently, then you will need to go for slow-acting insulin.
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Insulin Lispro: A Fast
SARA L. NOBLE, PHARM.D., ELIZABETH JOHNSTON, M.S.ED., and BILL WALTON, D.O., University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Am Fam Physician. 1998 Jan 15 57:279-286.
See related patient information handout on insulin lispro.
Research has established the importance of maintaining blood glucose levels near normal in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Short-acting insulin analogs are designed to overcome the limitations of regular short-acting insulins. Compared with regular human insulin, the analog insulin lispro offers faster subcutaneous absorption, an earlier and greater insulin peak and a more rapid post-peak decrease. Insulin lispro begins to exert its effects within 15 minutes of subcutaneous administration, and peak levels occur 30 to 90 minutes after administration. Duration of activity is less than five hours. Rates of insulin allergy, lipodystrophy, hypoglycemia and abnormal laboratory test results are essentially the same in patients using insulin lispro and in those using regular human insulin.
Primary care physicians provide medical care for 75 percent of children and 90 to 95 percent of adults with diabetes.3 Regardless of the type of diabetes, improved glycemic control often can be achieved with individualized tools for patient self-management, carefully formulated nutrition plans and the use of alternative insulin regimens.4
What Are The Drawbacks To Insulin Treatment For Diabetes
The biggest issue with insulin right now is unaffordability. A box of rapid-acting insulin can cost $400 without insurance. As so many people continue to lose their health coverage, its becoming an enormous problem, Dr. Zilbermint says.
Consistently rising costs have led some patients to ration their insulin, which can be dangerous and even deadly. The cost of testing strips is also an issue, and both have led to a black market in testing strips and insulin. Its illegal, says Dr. Zilbermint, but its happening.
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Things To Consider When Taking Rapid Insulin
The timing of your dose is important with relation to meals. You may not always be able to count carbohydrates, so there will be times when you really dont know how much you are consuming. This could happen over the holidays, at a friends house for dinner, or when you are out to eat when no nutritional information is available.
In some cases, the food may dictate the insulin, and not the other way around. For example, if your blood sugar is high right before your meal, you can use your insulin sensitivity factor. This is the amount that your blood sugar will go down with one unit of insulin.
Calculate what your dose is for coverage of the high blood sugar. Wait until you start trending down, then eat your meal. This works well for most insulin pumpers.
For those folks with diabetes who inject insulin, even if you use vials, it could be helpful to have an insulin pen around, which is more portable than vials of insulin. If your blood sugar is between 140 mg/dL and 180 mg/dL pre-meal, then take rapid insulin, and wait 30 minutes before you eat. If its higher, say between 180 mg/dL to 200 mg/dL, then waiting 45 minutes before eating may be warranted. If greater than 200 mg/dL, waiting an entire hour before eating may be warranted.
If you can check your blood sugar about an hour before your meal, you can do a correction dose of insulin an hour before your meal if your blood sugar is too high. That was, you will be trending a lower blood sugar when its time to eat your meal.
Afrezza Inhalation Powersavings Program Terms And Conditions
With the Afrezza® Savings Card, an eligible, commercially-insured patient age 18 years and older can receive this Copay Offer, see details below.
If coverage for Afrezza Inhalation Powder is approved by the patients health plan, a patient can qualify for the Copay Offer and pay as little as $15 per fill , up to a maximum of 12 fills annually. Maximum limits apply. See full Terms and Conditions below.
Maximum Quantities Allowed Under Copay Offer:NDC 47918-0874-90, 47918-0878-90 NDC 47918-0891-90:Max 810 cartridges/ 90 Day SupplyNDCs 47918-0880-18 NDC 47918-0902-18 NDC 47918-0898-18:Max 1,620 cartridges/ 90 Day Supply
For additional questions regarding program benefits, terms, conditions or participation requirements, please contact 1-844-3AFREZZA / 1-844-323-7399.
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Indications Dosing And Administration
Insulin lispro is available only by prescription and is indicated for the management of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus. Guidelines for glycemic control are listed in Table 4.20,21 Because of its more rapid onset and shorter duration of action, insulin lispro should always be part of a regimen that includes a longer-acting human insulin,5 except when continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy is used.22
|
Greater than 8 percent |
*These values given in this table are for patients who are not pregnant.
The action suggested depends on the individual patient. The action may include increased patient education, more frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose levels or referral to an endocrinologist.
Hemoglobin A1Cis referenced to a nondiabetic range of 4.0 to 6.0 percent .
Adapted with permission from the American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care for patients with diabetes mellitus . Diabetes Care 1996 19:S8S15, and American Diabetes Association. Clinical practice recommendations 1997 . Diabetes Care 1997 20:S1S70.
TTD = total daily insulin dose.
*Insulin lispro intermediate-acting human insulin long-acting human insulin .
The treatment recommendations in this table represent only some of the many possible approaches to initiating insulin lispro therapy. The selection of a specific regimen depends on the physician’s judgment, based on his or her knowledge of the specific patient.
How Long Does Nph Insulin Take To Peak
NPH insulin generally acts within 1 to 3 hours and has a peak time of about 6 to 8 hours.
Peak time is the period when a medication has its strongest effect. It varies based on the type and brand of insulin you use. Its essential to know the peak time of your insulin so that you can predict how much and when you should eat to keep your blood sugar constant.
NPH insulin can last for up to 12 hours and is typically injected once or twice per day. It can last longer than 12 hours in people with certain medical conditions like kidney failure.
When you inject NPH insulin into the subcutaneous layer of your skin, the insulin spreads through your fat tissue and connective tissue until it reaches small blood vessels called capillaries. Various factors can affect how long it takes for the insulin to reach your bloodstream and start acting. These include:
- injection depth
- thickness of your fat tissue
- temperature of your fat tissue
- your level of activity and exercise
- the part of your body injected
- whether youre a smoker
- body position during the injection
- impaired concentration and reaction time
People with kidney or liver conditions are at a higher risk of developing severe low blood sugar. Its important to talk with your doctor if you develop side effects so that your doctor can help you adjust your insulin dose.
Before taking NPH insulin, its important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of this type of insulin and to get clear instructions on:
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Variable Impact Of Food
To achieve a good match between the amount of insulin you take and an anticipated rise in your blood glucose level, you need to know how much carbohydrate you intend to eat, because carbohydrate has the greatest effect on blood glucose level. Some experts also encourage people to take into account the type of carbohydrate consumed as well as the amount.
Walsh, Wolpert, and Gary Scheiner, a certified diabetes educator in private practice in Pennsylvania, agree that the glycemic index of the foods in a meal or snack as well as the fiber and fat content can dramatically affect how quickly or slowly blood glucose level rises. Using this knowledge is especially helpful at breakfast, adds Wolpert, because some people are more insulin-resistant in the morning and therefore have more of a problem controlling blood glucose around the breakfast hours. For these reasons, both Wolpert and Scheiner suggest that people have foods with a lower glycemic index such as yogurt or a bowl of oatmeal with a piece of fruit for breakfast rather than foods with a higher glycemic index such as some cold cereals, pancakes, or muffins.
In general, foods and combinations of foods that have a low glycemic index and high fiber content will raise blood glucose more slowly. Meals and snacks that have a higher glycemic index and are lower in fiber will raise blood glucose more quickly. Meals and snacks that are high in fat content tend to cause a delayed rise in blood glucose.
Exceptions To Insulin Dosing And Timing
Long-acting insulins arenât tied to mealtimes. Youâll take detemir once or twice a day no matter when you eat. And youâll take glargine once a day, always at the same time. Deglutec is taken once a day, and the time of day can be flexible. But some people do have to pair a long-acting insulin with a shorter-acting type or another medication that does have to be taken at meal time.
Rapid-acting products can also be taken right after you eat, rather than 15 minutes before mealtime. You can take some of them at bedtime.
For more information about when to take insulin, read the “dosing and administration” section of the insulin product package insert that came with your insulin product, or talk with your doctor.
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Table Of Insulin Actions
The table gives a guide as to quickly the insulins start to act, between which times they peak and how long their activity lasts for.
The speed at which insulin acts may vary in different people and where you inject can have a significant effect too, so the table should only be used as a rough guide to understand how insulin action times can vary.
| Insulin |
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Why Do I Need To Take Insulin
All people who have type 1 diabetes and some people who have type 2 diabetes need to take insulin to help control their blood sugar levels. The goal of taking insulin is to keep your blood sugar level in a normal range as much as possible. Keeping blood sugar in check helps you stay healthy. Insulin cant be taken by mouth. It is usually taken by injection . It can also be taken using an insulin pen or an insulin pump.
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What Is Rapid Or Fast
By Elisabeth Almekinder RN, BA, CDE
You may take rapid acting or fast acting insulin for your diabetes, either through injections prior to your meals, or in your insulin pump. You may use it alone, or in combination with other insulins and diabetes medications, including injections and pills.
In a person without diabetes, the pancreas puts out small amounts of insulin, continuously bringing down blood sugars to a normal level with no difficulty. When a person has diabetes, they may not make any insulin, as occurs in Type 1 Diabetes. They may make some insulin, but its not working well, and its just not enough to bring blood sugars into a normal range, as occurs in Type 2 Diabetes.
When there is no insulin, or not enough insulin, the goal is to try to simulate what the body normally does to bring down blood sugars through injections of insulin, inhaled insulin, or via an insulin pump. To do this, rapid or fast acting insulin must be taken in relation to food that is eaten in many cases. Not everyone with diabetes must take insulin to control their blood sugars, though.
Lets learn how Christie uses rapid acting insulin
Insulin A To Z: A Guide On Different Types Of Insulin
Elizabeth Blair, A.N.P., at Joslin Diabetes Center, helps break down the different types of insulin and how they work for people with diabetes. Types of Insulin for People with Diabetes Rapid-acting: Usually taken before a meal to cover the blood glucose elevation from eating. This type of insulin is used with longer-acting insulin. Short-acting: Usually taken about 30 minutes before a meal to cover the blood glucose elevation from eating. This type of insulin is used with longer-acting insulin. Intermediate-acting: Covers the blood glucose elevations when rapid-acting insulins stop working. This type of insulin is often combined with rapid- or short-acting insulin and is usually taken twice a day. Long-acting: This type of insulin is often combined, when needed, with rapid- or short-acting insulin. It lowers blood glucose levels when rapid-acting insulins stop working. It is taken once or twice a day. A Guide on Insulin Types for People with Diabetes Type Brand Name Onset Peak Duration Rapid-acting Humalog Novolog Apidra 10 – 30 minutes 30 minutes – 3 hours 3 – 5 hours Short-acting Regular 30 minutes – 1 hour 2 – 5 hours Up to 12 hours Intermediate- acting NPH 1.5 – 4 hours 4 – 12 hours Up to 24 hours Long-acting Lantus Levemir 0.8 – 4 hours Minimal peak Up to 24 hours To make an appointment with a Joslin diabetes nurse educator, please call 732-2400.Continue reading > >
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What Is An Insulin Reaction
If youre going to use rapid-acting insulin, you need to be aware of insulin reactions and how to treat them. Rapid-acting insulin begins to work very quickly. So while you and your doctor are working to find the right dosage of this insulin, you may have some insulin reactions.
Hypoglycemia is the name for a condition in which the level of sugar in your blood is too low. If you use insulin, your blood sugar level can get too low if you exercise more than usual or if you dont eat enough. It also can get too low if you dont eat on time or if you take too much insulin. Most people who take insulin have insulin reactions at some time. Signs of an insulin reaction and hypoglycemia include the following:
- Feeling very tired.
- Being unable to speak or think clearly.
- Losing muscle coordination.
- Suddenly feeling like youre going to pass out.
- Becoming very pale.
- Candy: 5 Lifesavers.
- Glucose tablets: 3 tablets .
If you dont feel better 15 minutes after having a fast-acting carbohydrate, or if monitoring shows that your blood sugar level is still too low, have another 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate.