Humulin R Insulin

Description

Humulin- R is a type of regular human insulin. Injectable insulin is commonly used in the treatment of diabetes and other medical conditions that require the regulation of blood glucose. If your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes, your veterinarian may prescribe injections with insulin such as Humulin-R.

• Insulin is a hormone that is naturally produced by the pancreas to convert sugar (glucose) in the blood to energy for the body.
• Insulin therapy is prescribed to dogs and cats with diabetes. Diabetic animals are either unable to produce their own insulin or cannot use it properly.
• Insulin helps treat diabetes in cats and dogs by normalizing the glucose level in the blood.
• The insulin in Humulin R is called Regular insulin.
• Humulin R is a U-100 regular or short-acting insulin. U-100 means that each milliliter of insulin is divided into 100 dosing units.

Indications

HUMULIN R is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.

Directions

Read the Instructions for Use before you start taking HUMULIN R and each time you get a new vial. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

Do not share your syringes with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.

Supplies needed to give your injection

• a multiple-dose HUMULIN R vial
• a U-100 insulin syringe and needle
• 2 alcohol swabs
• 1 sharps container for throwing away used needles and syringes. See "Disposing of used needles and syringes" at the end of these instructions.

Preparing the Dose

• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Check the HUMULIN R label to make sure you are taking the right type of insulin. This is especially important if you use more than 1 type of insulin.
• Do not use HUMULIN R past the expiration date printed on the label or 31 days after you first use it.
• Always use a new syringe or needle for each injection to help make sure the syringe needle is sterile and to prevent blocked needles.
• Unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian, you'll administer insulin after feeding (administering it before can cause low blood sugar known as hypoglycemia).
• Before drawing up the dose, resuspend by gently rolling the bottle back and forth in the palm of your hands. Do not shake unless directed otherwise.
• Clean rubber stopper with rubbing alcohol wipe, turn upside down and draw up prescribed dose with sterile syringe (make sure to use the appropriate syringe for the insulin concentration type, either U-40 or U-100)
• Inject insulin subcutaneously (just under the skin) in a low-fat area, such as scuff (loose area of skin on back of neck) or shoulder region. Pinch skin together to create a fold and insert needle in the center. Once in, gently pull back on the plunger and check for blood. If there is blood in the syringe, it means you have hit a blood vessel and will need to reposition the needle. Before administering, make sure to check that the needle has not pierced through the other side of the skin fold. Once ready, push down on the plunger, remove needle and safely discard of syringe in a sharps or biohazard container.

Disposing of used needles and syringes

• Put your used needles and syringes in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of) loose needles and syringes in your household trash.
• If you do not have a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, you may use a household container that is:
  • made of a heavy-duty plastic,
  • can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out,
  • upright and stable during use,
  • leak resistant, and
  • properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container.
• When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away used needles and syringes. For more information about safe sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the state that you live in, go to the FDA's website at: http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.
• Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.

Storage

All unopened vials:

• Store all unopened vials in the refrigerator at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C).
• Do not freeze. Do not use if it has been frozen.
• Keep away from heat and out of direct light.
• Unopened vials can be used until the expiration date on the carton and label, if they have been stored in the refrigerator.
• Unopened vials should be thrown away after 31 days if they are stored at room temperature

After vials have been opened:

• Store opened vials in the refrigerator or at room temperature below 86°F (30°C) for up to 31 days.
• Keep away from heat and out of direct light.
• Throw away all opened vials after 31 days, even if there is still insulin left in the vial.

General information about the safe and effective use

• Keep HUMULIN R vials, syringes, needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children.
• Always use a new syringe or needle for each injection.
• Do not reuse or share your syringes or needles with other people. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.