Insulin Tips
Some diabetics have to inject insulin. The amount of insulin and the type are determined by your activity and the pattern of your sugars. The best way to determine this is to bring your glucose diary to every visit.
Who needs insulin?
Type I diabetics must have insulin because their bodies do not make enough insulin. Some Type II diabetics need insulin because pills may not be enough to control sugars.Glucose goals
Before meal goal 80-120Before bedtime snack goal 100-140
How does my kind of insulin work?
Different types of insulin act in different ways. It is important to know how your particular kind of insulin works.- Onset-when the insulin starts working
- Peak action-when the insulin has the largest effect on blood sugar
- Duration-how long the insulin lasts
Insulin
| Type | Average Onset | Average Peak | Duration |
| (Start of Action) | (When it works the hardest) | (How long it lasts) | |
| Very Rapid (Clear) | |||
| Humalog (lispro) | 15 minutes | 1-2 hours | 3-5 hours |
| Novalog (aspart) | 10-20 minutes | 1-3 hours | 3-5 hours |
| Rapid Acting (Clear) | |||
| Regular (R) | 30-60 minutes | 2-3 hours | 5-7 hours |
| Intermediate Acting (Cloudy) | |||
| NPH (N) | 1-2 hours | 4-12 hours | 18-24 hours |
| Lente (L) | 1-2 hours | 7-15 hours | 18-24 hours |
| Long-Acting | |||
| Ultra lente(U) Cloudy | 4-8 hours | 10-30 hours | 36 hours |
| Lantus (glargine) Clear | 1 hour | none | 20-24 hours |
| Pre-Mixed (Cloudy) | |||
| 70/30 | 30 minutes | 2-12 hours | 18-24 hours |
| 50/50 | 30 minutes | 2-12 hours | 18-24 hours |
| 75/25 | 15 minutes | 1-12 hours | 18 hours |
Insulin Storage
The insulin bottle that you are currently using can be stored at room temperature for 30 days. Additional bottles should be stored in the refrigerator but not frozen.
Disposal of syringes
Used syringes should be placed in a hard plastic container that has a screw top lid.
Where to inject?
Insulin is absorbed the fastest from the abdomen, then arm and then the leg. Exercise after injection may increase the rate of absorption from the legs and arms. Be sure to rotate injection sites to prevent soreness.
Insulin Diary
Record your blood sugar levels in a diary and bring to every doctor's visit.