apidra
insulin glulisine (IN suh lin GLUE lih seen)
What is the most important information I should know about Apidra?
• Apidra differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it begins towork and the amount of time it continues to be effective apidra. Because Apidra beginsto work soon after it is injected, the injection of Apidra should be given within15 minutes before a meal or 20 minutes after starting a meal apidra. Hypoglycemia (lowblood sugar) may occur if eating is delayed apidra.
• Know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), whichinclude shaking; nausea; headache; drowsiness; weakness; dizziness; fast heartbeat;sweating; pale, cool skin; anxiety; and difficulty concentrating apidra. Carry a pieceof candy or glucose tablets with you to treat episodes of low blood sugar apidra.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse apidra. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control your blood sugar levels apidra.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever apidra. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements apidra.
• Do not change the insulin or syringe that you are using without firsttalking to your doctor or pharmacist apidra. Any change in insulin strength, manufacturer,type, or species (animal, human) may require a change in dose apidra.
What is Apidra?
• Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas apidra. Insulin enablesthe body to use the sugar in food as a source of energy apidra. When the body doesnot produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced by the body is noteffective enough, the condition is called diabetes mellitus apidra. This conditionallows sugar levels in the blood to become very high apidra. Diabetics must use man-madeinsulin or insulin that comes from pigs (which is very similar to human insulin)to lower these high blood sugar levels apidra.
• Apidra is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus apidra.
• Apidra may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide apidra.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Apidra?
• Do not use Apidra if you are allergic to insulin or if you have intoleranceto a certain insulin product apidra.
• Before using Apidra, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease apidra. You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment apidra.
• Before using Apidra, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditionsor if you take other prescription or over-the-counter medications, includingvitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements apidra.
• Apidra is in the FDA pregnancy category C apidra. This means that it is notknown whether Apidra will be harmful to an unborn baby apidra. Do not use this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment apidra.
• It is not known whether Apidra passes into breast milk apidra. Do not use thismedication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding ababy apidra.
How should I use Apidra?
• Use Apidra exactly as directed by your doctor apidra. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them toyou apidra.
• Apidra differs from regular human insulin by how quickly it begins towork and the amount of time it continues to be effective apidra. Because Apidra beginsto work soon after it is injected, the injection of Apidra should be given within15 minutes before a meal or 20 minutes after starting a meal apidra. Hypoglycemia (lowblood sugar) may occur if eating is delayed apidra.
• If the insulin has been stored in the refrigerator, it can be warmedto room temperature before use apidra.
• Do not use any insulin that is discolored, looks thick, has particlesin it, or looks different from previous bottles of Apidra apidra.
• If you are mixing Apidra with NPH human insulin, draw Apidra into thesyringe first apidra. Inject the mixture right away apidra. Do no mix Apidra with any othertype of insulin apidra.
• Change injection sites exactly as directed by your doctor apidra. Usually, youshould not inject within 1 inch of the same site within 1 month apidra.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe apidra. Dispose of all needles and syringesin an appropriate, puncture-resistant disposal container apidra.
• Do not change the insulin or syringe that you are using without firsttalking to your doctor or pharmacist apidra. Any change in insulin strength, manufacturer,type, or species (animal, human) may require a change in dose apidra.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse apidra. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin that you need to control your blood sugar levels apidra.
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu,or fever apidra. These illnesses may change your insulin requirements apidra.
• Wear some type of medical identification bracelet, necklace, or otheralert tag to inform others that you have diabetes and that you require insulinin the case of an emergency apidra.
• Your healthcare provider may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugarlevels with blood or urine tests apidra.
• Proper foot care, eye care, dental care, and overall proper health careare important for people with diabetes apidra. Visit your doctor, dentist, eye doctor,and other heath care practitioners as recommended by your doctor apidra.
• Store unopened bottles of Apidra in the refrigerator between 36 and 46degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius) apidra. Do not store Apidra in the freezerand do not allow it to freeze apidra. Do not use Apidra if it has been frozen apidra. Throwaway any expired Apidra apidra.
• Vials of Apidra can be kept unrefrigerated for up to 28 days, but shouldnot be exposed to excessive heat or sunlight
• Once punctured, the vial of insulin in use, whether stored in the refrigeratoror at room temperature, must be used within 28 days apidra. Throw away any unused insulin28 days after the vial is first punctured apidra.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Follow your doctor's directions if you miss a dose of insulin apidra. To preventmissed doses, be sure to always have enough insulin on hand, especially if youare going on vacation apidra.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected apidra.
• Symptoms of an insulin overdose reflect very low blood sugar levels andinclude headache, irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate or pulse, sweating,tremor, nausea, increased hunger, and anxiety apidra.
What should I avoid while using Apidra?
• Do not use alcohol without first talking to your doctor apidra. It lowers bloodsugar, and you may experience dangerously low blood sugar levels apidra.
• Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctoror nurse apidra. Changes in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amountof insulin you need to control your blood sugar levels apidra.
What are the possible side effects of Apidra?
• Rarely, people have allergic reactions to insulin apidra. Seek emergency medicalattention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closingof the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives) apidra.
• The side effects of insulin therapy result mostly from blood sugar levelsthat are either too high or too low apidra. You should be familiar with the symptomsof both high and low blood sugar levels and know how to treat both conditions apidra. Also, be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency apidra.
• Low blood sugar may occur when too much insulin is used; when meals aremissed or delayed; if you exercise more than usual; during illness, especiallywith vomiting or diarrhea; if you take other medications; after drinking alcohol;and in other situations apidra.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, has the following symptoms: shaking,nausea, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat, sweating,pale, cool skin, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating apidra.
• Keep hard, sugary candy; chocolate; fruit juice; or glucose tablets onhand to treat episodes of low blood sugar apidra.
• Increased blood sugar may occur if not enough insulin is used, if youeat significantly more food then usual, if you exercise less than usual, ifyou take other medications, if you have a fever or other illness, and in othersituations apidra.
• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, has the following symptoms: increasedthirst, increased hunger, and increased urination apidra.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels and ask your doctor how to adjust yourinsulin doses if your blood sugar levels are too high apidra.
• Side effects may also occur at the site of injection apidra. If the area becomesthickened, hard, or pitted, talk to your doctor before injecting at that siteagain apidra.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur apidra. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome apidra.
What other drugs will affect Apidra?
• Many drugs can interact with insulin or affect your blood sugar levels apidra. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, includingvitamins, minerals, and herbal products, without first talking to your doctoror pharmacist during treatment with insulin apidra.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Apidra written for healthprofessionals that you may read apidra.
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