Insulin is normally made by the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach. In children with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes enough insulin or it stops making it. Without insulin, your child's blood sugar level rises to dangerous levels. When this happens, your child needs insulin shots to keep blood sugar at a safe level.
You may be nervous giving your child a shot at first. But soon, giving the shot will become routine. It is quite easy to learn how to draw up insulin into a syringe and give the shot. The needles you use to give the insulin injections are very thin, and most children who have diabetes say that they do not even feel the needle enter the skin. Even if your child does feel the injection, the sting of the shot is not bad and does not last long. Many parents give their children shots. You can too.
Insulin can become damaged and ineffective if it is not stored properly.
Always read the insulin package information that tells the best way to store your insulin.
You can keep open bottles with you if you keep them in a dark place. The bottles should not be exposed to temperatures below 36 F (2.2 C) or above 86 F (30 C) . Never leave insulin in the sun or in your hot car, because sunlight and heat reduce the strength of the insulin.
Avoid shaking insulin bottles and liquid insulin cartridges too much to prevent loss of medicine strength and to prevent clumping, frosting, or particles settling out. Follow the storage information provided by the manufacturer.
The first time you use an insulin bottle, write the date on the bottle label. Always store an extra bottle of each type of your insulin in the refrigerator.
If you cannot prepare an insulin dose but can give the injection, you may need someone to prepare your insulin dose for you. A family member, friend, or health professional can prefill insulin syringes for you. If you prefill syringes:
The insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio is a formula used to find the amount of insulin you need. This amount is based on how many grams of carbs you eat at a meal or snack. Using the ratio allows you to adjust the amount of insulin you take so you can keep your blood sugar at your target level.
You and your doctor or diabetes educator will find your personal ratio by keeping track of the food you eat and testing your blood sugar level after meals.
Your insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio may change over time. In some people it will change from one meal to the next. For example, you might take 1 unit of insulin for every 10 grams of carbs for lunch but take 1 unit for every 15 grams at dinner.
Insulin helps keep your blood sugar level within a target range. It can be taken as a shot (injection) or through an insulin pump. Rapid-acting insulin is also available as a powder that you inhale.
Most people who have type 1 diabetes take a combination of types of insulin. For instance, they may take a long-acting insulin once or twice a day and a rapid-acting insulin before each meal. The amount and type of insulin needed varies for each person.
Never skip a dose of insulin without the advice of your doctor.
Insulin is used to treat people who have diabetes. How quickly insulin starts to work and how long it lasts will be different depending on the type of insulin you use. Other factors that can affect insulin and your blood sugar are exercise, diet, illness, some medicines, stress, the dose, how you take it, or where you inject it. The table below is a general guide. Your results may be different.
Insulin is available in several strengths. U-100 is the most common. U-100 means there are 100 units of insulin in one milliliter of fluid. Other strengths include U-200, U-300, and U-500. For example, U-500 is five times more concentrated than U-100 regular insulin. Be sure to check the concentration of your insulin so you take the right amount.
Insulin is made by different companies. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator about the type of insulin you have and how to use it. See the table below for types of insulin and some examples.
| | | | |
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Rapid-acting insulins (bolus insulin) are usually taken at the start of a meal. | Insulin aspart (Fiasp) Insulin glulisine (Apidra) Insulin lispro (Humalog) | Clear | 10–20 minutes | 2–4 hours |
Rapid-acting insulin also comes in a form that can be inhaled through the mouth. | Insulin human inhalation powder (Afrezza) | Contained in a cartridge | 12 minutes | 1½–3 hours |
Short-acting insulins (bolus insulin) are usually taken a short time before a meal. | Insulin regular (Humulin-R U-100, Novolin R, and Novolin R ReliOn) | Clear | 30–60 minutes | 5–8 hours |
Intermediate-acting insulins (basal insulin) are usually taken between meals and at bedtime. | Insulin NPH (Humulin-N, Novolin-N, and Novolin ReliOn) | Cloudy | 1–3 hours | Up to 24 hours |
Long-acting insulins (basal insulin) are usually taken between meals and at bedtime. | Insulin detemir (Levemir) Insulin glargine (Lantus and Basaglar) Insulin regular (Humulin R U-500) | Clear | 60–90 minutes (30 minutes for U-500) | Up to 24 hours |
Ultra long-acting insulins (basal insulin) are usually taken between meals and at bedtime. | Insulin degludec (Tresiba) Insulin glargine (Toujeo) | Clear | 1 hour (up to 6 hours for insulin glargine) | 36–42 hours |
Mixtures of insulin can sometimes be combined in the same syringe, for example, intermediate-acting and rapid- or short-acting insulin. Not all insulins can be mixed together.
For convenience, there are premixed rapid- and intermediate-acting insulins. These come in a premixed ratio, such as 75/25, 70/30, and 50/50. For example, 75/25 means the mixture is 75% intermediate-acting insulin and 25% rapid-acting insulin. They are usually taken 2 times a day at the start of a meal. These insulins look cloudy. The insulin will start to work as quickly as the fastest-acting insulin in the combination. It will last as long as the longest-acting insulin. Examples include:
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