Diabetes—Insulin

All people with Type 1 diabetes and some people with Type 2 diabetes will need to take insulin. Insulin keeps the blood sugar down and helps your body to use food the right way.

Kinds of Insulin

There are different kinds of insulin available.

Lispro (Humalog®) is a very rapid-acting insulin analog. It starts to work within 5-15 minutes after it is taken. It has its greatest effect in about one hour and its effect is all gone in 2 to 3 hours. This insulin is clear in appearance.

Regular insulin is rapid-acting. It starts to work 30 minutes after you take it. It has its greatest effect 2 to 3 hours after you take it and stays in your blood for 5 to 6 hours. This insulin is clear in appearance.

Intermediate-acting insulin (NPH or Lente) takes 2 to 4 hours to start to work. It has its greatest effect 8-10 hours after you take it and stays in your blood for 16-18 hours. This insulin is cloudy in appearance.

Long-acting insulin (Ultralente) starts to work 6 to 10 hours after you take it. It has its greatest effect 10-16 hours after you take it and stays in your blood for 18-24 hours. This insulin is cloudy in appearance.

Insulin Preparation—One kind

You can learn how to give yourself an insulin shot. Here are the steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.

2. Check the expiration date on the bottle (s). Do not use if the bottle (s) are expired.

3. Store your extra bottles of insulin in the refrigerator. The insulin bottles you are using may be stored at room temperature. Store these bottles of insulin between 40-86 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Gently mix the insulin by rolling between your hands. Look at the insulin; if there are clumps of insulin in the bottle after mixing or if there are particles of insulin (flakes) stuck to the bottle, do not use it.

   

5. If you have a new vial, remove the flat, colored cap. Do not remove the rubber stopper or metal band under the cap. Clean the rubber stopper with alcohol each time you draw insulin.

6. Take your syringe and remove the needle cover or cap.

   

7. Pull the plunger out to let air in the syringe. (You need an amount of air that is the same as your insulin dose. You need to put this air into the insulin bottle in order to take insulin out of the bottle.)

   

8. Put the needle into the rubber stopper on the top of the bottle.

9. Push the plunger down and shoot the air into the bottle.

   

10. Turn the bottle of insulin upside down with the needle in it. The tip of the needle should be in the insulin.

    

11. Pull the plunger out to the number of units you need for your dose.

12. Check for air bubbles. If you have air bubbles, push the insulin back into the bottle and pull the plunger out to the number of units you need. Repeat this until there are no air bubbles.

13. Double check to make sure you have the correct dose. Pull the needle out of the rubber stopper and you are ready to give your insulin. Put the cover back on the needle.

See related Patient Textbooks about Internal Medicine.

See related Patient Topics About Your Medicines, Child and Teen Health, Diabetes, Endocrine System (Hormones), Endocrinology, Food, Nutrition and Metabolism, Immune System/AIDS, Internal Medicine, Juvenile Diabetes, Procedures and Therapies or Seniors' Health.

See related Provider Textbooks about Internal Medicine.

See related Provider Topics About Your Medicines, Child and Teen Health, Diabetes, Endocrine System (Hormones), Endocrinology, Food, Nutrition and Metabolism, Immune System/AIDS, Internal Medicine, Procedures and Therapies or Seniors' Health.

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