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Humalog Consumer Information

HUMALOG

Generic Name: insulin lispro (IN suh lin LISS pro)

Brand Names: Humalog

What is the most important information I should know about insulin lispro?

• 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 hard candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar.
• Insulin lispro should be given within 15 minutes before or immediately after a meal because it begins to work very soon after injecting a dose and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may occur if eating is delayed.
• 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 your 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.
• Do not change the brand of insulin lispro or syringe that you are using without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Some brands of insulin lispro 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 lispro?

• Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by your pancreas. Insulin enables your 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 lispro starts to work in 15 minutes and its effects last for 3 to 5 hours.
• Insulin lispro 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 lispro?

• Do not use insulin lispro if you are allergic to insulin or if you have an intolerance of a certain insulin lispro product.
• Insulin lispro can be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Insulin lispro is not expected to harm a baby. In fact, it is very important to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Insulin is the best treatment option for pregnant or breast-feeding women.

How should I use insulin lispro?

• Use insulin lispro 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 lispro should be given within 15 minutes before or immediately after a meal because it begins to work very soon after injecting a dose and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may occur if eating is delayed.
• If you have stored your insulin lispro in the refrigerator, warm it to room temperature before using it.
• If you are mixing different types of insulins in the same syringe, follow your doctor's directions and always draw up the different insulins in the same order (usually the clear insulin first). This may prevent a dosage error.
• Change your injection sites exactly 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. 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., lispro) unless your doctor approves a change for you.
• Do not change the brand of insulin lispro or syringe that you are using without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Some brands of insulin lispro 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 your 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, cartridges, or pens of insulin lispro.
• Keep the bottle, pen, or cartridge that you are using at room temperature in the original carton, if possible, protected from direct sunlight and extreme heat or cold.
• The Humalog vials, cartridges, and pens can be kept unrefrigerated for 28 days, as long as they are kept as cool as possible (at temperatures not greater than 30 degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Fahrenheit). Unrefrigerated vials, cartridges, and pens must be used within this time period or discarded.
• Store unused bottles, cartridges, and pens of insulin lispro in the refrigerator in the original carton. Most insulin lispro is good for up to 1 year if it is stored unopened in the refrigerator. Throw away any expired insulin lispro.

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 lispro?

• 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 you need to control your blood sugar levels.

What are the possible side effects of insulin lispro?

• 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 hard, sugary candy; chocolate; 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 lispro?

• Many drugs can interact with insulin or affect your 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.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about insulin lispro written for health professionals that you may read.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations of This Canadian Pharmacy Information

Efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. This is an educational resource only intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. This site does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

Full public license and copyright information is available separately from Cerner Multum, Inc.

Version: 2.03. Revision Date: 2/14/03.