Insulin Injectable: General Use Guidance

Therapeutic action

Pancreatic hormone, antidiabetic.

Indications

• Type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes during pregnancy.
• Transient therapy of type 2 diabetes during periods of severe infection, trauma, or surgery.

Dose

Dosage must be individualized. Frequency of administration depends on the type of insulin and the patient's response.

The type of insulin used depends on several factors including type of diabetes, the patient's age, and blood glucose response.

Duration

• Type 1 diabetes: lifetime treatment.
• Other indications: according to clinical response and laboratory tests.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Do not administer in patients with allergy to insulin, which is rare.
• May cause hypoglycaemia due to overdosage or inadequate diet, local reactions at the injection site, lipodystrophy, and weight gain.
• Rotate injection sites systematically and use all available sites.
• Monitor combination with drugs enhancing the hypoglycaemic effect of insulin and with drugs increasing blood glucose levels.
• Avoid alcohol because it enhances and prolongs the hypoglycaemic effect of insulin.
• In the event of renal or hepatic impairment and during the first trimester of pregnancy, reduce insulin doses.
• In the event of infection, emotional stress, accident, or surgical intervention and during the last 2 trimesters of pregnancy, increase insulin doses.
• Use sterile technique.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
• Insulin cannot be administered by mouth since it is inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract.