1 May 2026Injectable drugsSource update: October 2024
Insulin, short-acting injectable
Short-acting insulin guidance for diabetes and emergency treatment of severe hyperglycaemia.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Rapid-acting pancreatic antidiabetic hormone.
Indications
- Diabetes.
- Emergency treatment of hyperglycaemia, including diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- Solution of 100 IU/ml in a 3 ml pre-filled pen (300 IU/3 ml) for deep SC injection only in the abdomen, thigh, buttock, or arm.
- Solution of 100 IU/ml in a 10 ml vial (1000 IU/10 ml) for deep SC injection, IV injection with a syringe calibrated in insulin units, or IV infusion.
Dose
Diabetes
- Child and adult: one SC injection 15 to 30 minutes before a meal, in combination with intermediate-acting insulin.
- Dosage must be individualized according to need and adapted in the event of physical activity, change in diet, or infection.
Emergency treatment of hyperglycaemia
- Adult: initial dose of 0.1 IU/kg by IV injection then 0.1 IU/kg/hour by continuous IV infusion.
- Adapt the protocol to blood glucose levels.
- See "Insulin: general information".
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- In the event of combination with intermediate-acting insulin, always prepare the mix in the syringe immediately before administration and draw the short-acting insulin first, then the intermediate-acting insulin.
- By IV route, insulin has a very short half-life of around 5 minutes and the effect disappears within 30 minutes of injection.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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