Insulin Regular is a type of insulin used to control diabetes and hyperglycemia due to various causes. It belongs to the group of short-acting insulins. Learn more about the uses, usage and notes when using Insulin Regular in the following article!
Function
What are the effects of Insulin Regular?
Insulin Regular is a short-acting insulin, whose effect begins within 30 minutes after injection, peaks in about 2-3 hours and lasts about 3-6 hours. The main effect of Regular Insulin is to control blood sugar for adults and children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes .
Regular insulin is a synthetic protein hormone that, like natural endogenous insulin , has many physiological effects. This insulin injection will replace the insulin your body does not produce or cannot use normally, providing effects such as:
- Reduce your blood sugar .
- Moves glucose from the blood into cells throughout the body so the cells can use glucose for energy.
- Prevent your liver from releasing too much sugar.
Some other effects of the drug are not listed on the approved drug label, but your doctor may direct you to use them. You should only use this medication to treat certain conditions only if prescribed by your doctor.
Dosage
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before deciding to take medication.
What is the dose of Insulin Regular?
Insulin dosage is adjusted depending on individual patient response. Insulin dose has no upper limit. As follows:
- For patients with type 1 diabetes, the required dose is 0.5 – 1.0 UI/kg body weight. The starting dose is usually 0.4 – 0.5 IU/kg/day. Normal dose is 0.6 UI/kg, injected subcutaneously 1-3 times a day. Then, based on the blood sugar results, increase or decrease the insulin dose by 1-2 IU/time.
- For patients with type 2 diabetes: Start from 0.2 UI/kg/day, usually ranging from 0.3 – 0.6 UI/kg/day.
How to use
How should you take Insulin Regular?
To inject Regular Insulin, patients can self-inject with a needle or use an insulin pen . Insulin injection sites may include: abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, outer thighs. If injecting insulin regularly, patients need to choose injection points other than plastic to avoid skin thickening or lumps or pits appearing on the skin.
What should you do in case of overdose?
In case of emergency or overdose, immediately call 115 Emergency Center or go to the nearest local Health Station. Insulin overdose can lead to:
- Severe hypoglycemia (alarmingly low blood sugar levels)
- Convulsion
- Comatose.
Additionally, you need to write down and bring a list of all medications you take, including both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
What should you do if you miss a dose?
When you forget to inject insulin, the patient may show signs of too high blood sugar, such as nausea, drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth and fruity breath (acetone). In these cases, go immediately to the nearest medical facility for timely treatment.
Side effects
What side effects will you experience when injecting Insulin Regular?
Side effects of regular insulin injections include:
- Bumps, pits, swelling, redness, or itching at the injection site
- Allergy
- Weight gain.
Serious side effects include:
- Severe allergic reaction
- Severe hypoglycemia due to insulin overdose.
This is not a complete list of all side effects and other side effects may occur. If you have any questions about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Caution/Warning
Before using Insulin Regular, what should you pay attention to?
Before using Insulin Regular, talk to and consult your doctor if you:
- Are allergic to any medications
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have eye disease or vision problems
- There are episodes of hypoglycemia.
Drug interactions
What medications can Insulin Regular interact with?
Insulin Regular may change how well other medications you are taking work or increase the effects of side effects. To avoid drug interactions, it’s best to write a list of all the medications you’re taking (including prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, and dietary supplements) and show it to your doctor or pharmacist. To ensure safety when using medication, do not arbitrarily use the medication, stop it or change the dosage of the medication without your doctor’s permission.
Drugs that may interact with Insulin Regular include:
- Allergy
- Antibiotics
- Aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Blood pressure medications, including beta blockers, clonidine
- Cholesterol medications (statins)
- Medicine for colds or asthma
- Diabetes medication
- Diuretic
- HIV treatment drugs
- Heart medications
- Hormone replacement therapy drugs
- Medicines to treat mental health conditions
- Oral contraceptives
- Steroids
- Thyroid medication
- Drugs to treat tuberculosis
- Vitamin or herbal supplements.
What foods and drinks can Insulin Regular interact with?
Food, alcohol and tobacco can interact with certain medications. Consult your doctor about taking medication with food, alcohol and tobacco.
What health conditions affect Insulin Regular?
Your medical condition may affect the use of this medication. Tell your doctor if you have any health problems.
Preserving medicine
How should you store insulin?
Unopened insulin vials should be stored in the refrigerator, not in the freezer because it can change insulin activity. A thermometer should be placed in the refrigerator to control the temperature.
Opened insulin vials should be stored at room temperature, away from high temperatures and light to ensure that subcutaneous insulin will be close to body temperature, helping to reduce pain and regulate the diffusion process under the skin. Use of an opened vial of insulin should not exceed 28 days.
You should not throw medicine into the toilet or water pipes unless asked to do so. Instead, properly dispose of medication when it is expired or unusable. You can consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of medications.
Keep medicine out of reach of children and pets.
