Insulin

Insulin helps to take the sugar in your blood to 

other parts of your body. Diabetes affects how 

your body makes or uses insulin. Diabetes can 

make it hard to control how much sugar is in 

your blood.

There is hope!

There are different kinds of insulin that people 

with diabetes can use every day to help them 

stay healthy. 

This booklet gives some basic facts about 

insulin. Use this booklet to help you talk to 

your doctor about the kind of insulin that you 

are taking. 

Do not wait. Diabetes is a serious illness.

Diabetes can cause a heart attack, stroke, 

blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage and 

other serious health problems. This is why it is 

so important for you to get treatment for your 

diabetes. Treatment can help prevent or slow 

some of these serious health problems.

Exercise, eat a balanced diet, and take your 

diabetes medicines. You can do it.

Insulin Safety Tips

Never drink insulin. 

Do not share insulin needles, 

pens or cartridges with anyone 

else.

Talk to your doctor before

you change or stop using your 

insulin.

Do not inject your insulin in 

the exact same spot each time. 

Throw away needles in a hard 

container that can be closed 

like a laundry detergent bottle. 

Check the expiration date on 

the insulin before you use it.

Make a plan about how to 

handle your insulin when 

you travel and during an 

emergency.

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Check the FDA website to learn more about Women and Diabetes:

www.fda.gov/womens

JUNE 2010
My Insulin Guide

Ask your health care provider these questions before you start using your insulin.

How often should I use my insulin?

Can you show me the right way to inject the insulin?

Will the insulin affect my other medicines? What about my birth control?

What are the side effects? What do I do if I start having side effects?

What is my target blood sugar level?

 Before Meals ___________

 

 1-2 Hours After Meals ___________

 

 Bedtime ____________

How often should I check my blood sugar?

What should I do if I am pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding?

How should I store my insulin?

Write down the facts about your insulin the next time you talk to your doctor, 

nurse, or pharmacist.

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Name Of

Insulin 

How Much Do 

I Take

When Do I 

Take It What I Should Know

Name:

Doctor:

Pharmacy:

My Glucose Meter:

My Insulin Device:


Do I need insulin?

Some people with diabetes need to use insulin every day. Some people can take other 

diabetes medicines. Your health care provider can tell you if you need to use insulin.

Type 1 

Diabetes

Type 2 

Diabetes

Gestational 

Diabetes 

People with type 1 diabetes make very little or no insulin in 

their bodies. They must take insulin every day to stay alive.

People with type 2 diabetes do not make enough insulin or do 

not use it well enough. Some people with type 2 diabetes can 

use pills or other medicines that are injected into the body. 

Other people with type 2 also need insulin to help control their 

diabetes.

Some women develop diabetes for the first time when they 

become pregnant. This is called gestational (jes-Tay-shun-ul) 

diabetes. Some women with gestational diabetes need to use 

insulin to control their blood sugar.

How often should I inject my insulin?

Each person is different. Some people need to inject insulin one time each day. 

Others need to inject insulin more often. Many things affect how much insulin you 

need each day:

Type of Insulin You Use

What You Eat

Your Activity Level

Your Other Health Conditions

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Your doctor will tell you how often you should inject your insulin.


This insulin starts working within 15 minutes after you use it. It 

is mostly gone out of your body after a few hours. It should be 

taken just before or just after you eat.

This insulin starts working within 30 minutes to 1 hour after you 

use it. It is mostly gone out of your body after a few hours. It 

should be taken 30-45 minutes before you eat.

This insulin starts working within 2-4 hours after you use it. It 

reaches its highest level in your blood around 6-8 hours after you 

use it. It is often used to help control your blood sugar between 

meals. Some people use this type of insulin in the morning, at 

bedtime, or both.

This insulin starts working within 2 to 4 hours after you use 

it. It can last in the body for up to 24 hours. It is often used 

in the morning or at bedtime to help control your blood sugar 

throughout the day. 

This is a mix of two different types of insulin. It includes one 

type that helps to control your blood sugar at meals and another 

type that helps between meals. 

Rapid-Acting

Short-Acting

IntermediateActing

Long-Acting

Pre-Mixed

Types of Insulin

There are many different types of insulin. The type lets you know how fast the 

insulin starts working or how long it lasts in your body. Your health care provider 

will help you find the insulin that is best for you.

Insulin Tip: Do not store your insulin in a place that 

is very hot or very cold.


Brand Name Other Names Type of Insulin 

(How Fast Insulin Works)

Apidra

Apidra Solostar Insulin Glulisine Rapid Acting

Humalog

Humalog Pen

Humalog Kwikpen

Insulin Lispro Rapid Acting

NovoLog Insulin Aspart Rapid Acting

Humulin R

Humulin R Pen Regular Human Insulin Short Acting

Novolin R Regular Human Insulin Short Acting

Humulin N

NPH Human Insulin

(Human Insulin Isophane Suspension) Intermediate Acting

Novolin N

NPH Human Insulin 

(Human Insulin Isophane Suspension) Intermediate Acting

Lantus Insulin Glargine Long Acting

Levemir Insulin Detemir Long Acting

Humalog Mix 75/25

Humalog Mix 75/25 Pen

75% Insulin Lispro Protamine Suspension

25% Insulin Lispro Injection Intermediate and Rapid-Acting

Humalog Mix 50/50

Humalog Mix 50/50 Pen

50% Insulin Lispro Protamine Suspension

50% Insulin Lispro Injection Intermediate and Rapid-Acting

Humulin 70/30

Humulin 70/30 Pen

70% NPH Human Insulin 

30% Regular Human Insulin Injection Intermediate and Short-Acting

NovoLog Mix 70/30

NovoLog Mix 70/30 FlexPen

70% Insulin Aspart Protamine Suspension

30% Insulin Aspart Injection Intermediate and Rapid-Acting

Novolin 70/30

70% NPH Human Insulin

30% Regular Human Insulin Injection Intermediate and Short-Acting


Insulin Side Effects

Insulin affects each person differently. Insulin can sometimes cause side effects. 

The side effects will depend on your body and the type of insulin you are taking. 

Follow these tips to help you learn how to handle side effects.

Report serious problems with your insulin or device.

You or your doctor can tell the FDA about serious problems with your medicines. 

Call FDA at 1-800-332-1088 to report serious side effects.

Learn more about reporting problems to the FDA at:

www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm

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Insulin Tip: Talk to your doctor before you change 

or stop taking your insulin.

Get the facts. Ask your health care 

provider for the side effects, warnings, 

and other facts for your insulin. This 

booklet does not give all facts for each 

kind of insulin.

Speak up. Tell someone about any 

problems you may be having with 

your insulin. Your doctor may change 

your prescription or give you tips to 

help you deal with the side effects.

Check the FDA website. You can 

find up-to-date safety information 

about your insulin at: www.fda.gov

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Low Blood Sugar

Diabetes medicines can sometimes cause 

your blood sugar to go too low. This 

condition is called hypoglycemia

(HY-poh-gly-SEE-mee-uh). 

It happens when there is too much insulin 

and not enough sugar (glucose) in your 

blood. 

Ask your health care provider to tell 

you all of the signs and symptoms of 

low blood sugar.

Some of the signs and symptoms are:

Headache • Fast Heartbeat

Feel Irritable • Feel Dizzy

Feel Drowsy • Sweating

Feel Hungry • Feeling Confused

Feel Weak • Feeling Jittery 

Many factors can cause your blood sugar to

go too low:

The Medicines You Take

Not Eating Enough

Too Much Exercise

Drinking Alcohol

What You Can Do

Talk to your doctor or nurse. 

Eat or drink foods high in carbohydrates 

like fruit juice, sugar candy or regular 

soda (not diet) or take some glucose 

tablets when your blood sugar is too low.

If your blood sugar is very low, you may 

need to have someone give you a glucagon 

injection or you may need to seek 

emergency medical help.

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Know the Warning Signs

High Blood Sugar

People with diabetes can sometimes have 

too much sugar (glucose) in their blood. 

This condition is called hyperglycemia

(HY-pur-gly-SEE-mee-uh).

It happens when your body is not making 

enough insulin or is not using insulin well.

Ask your health care provider to tell 

you all of the signs and symptoms of 

high blood sugar. 

Some of the signs and symptoms are:

Feel Tired 

Feel Thirsty

Go to the Bathroom a Lot

Vision is Blurry 

Lose Weight Without Trying

Many factors can cause your blood sugar to 

get too high:

Stress

Eating Too Much

Being Sick

Having an Infection

Not Taking Your Diabetes Medicines 

 

What You Can Do

Talk to your doctor or nurse.

Ask if you should change your medicines 

or what you eat.

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Insulin Devices

There are many different ways to inject your insulin. Some people use a needle and 

syringe to inject their insulin. Others use insulin pens, jet injectors, or pumps. 

Read the information in this section about the different kinds of insulin devices. 

Then, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about the kind that is best for you.

Insulin Needles and Syringes 

Needles and syringes are used to inject insulin under the skin. 

Insulin needles come in different sizes. Most needles have a 

special coating to help them go through the skin with as little 

pain as possible.

Do not share your needles or syringes with others.

Ask your health care provider which kind of needle is 

right for you.

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Insulin Pens

Insulin pens are devices that look like regular pens with a fine 

short needle on the tip. The pens have enough insulin in them 

for a few injections. Some pens have a case filled with insulin 

that you change when it is empty. Other pens are thrown away 

when the case is empty.

Put a new needle on the tip of the pen each time you 

give yourself an injection (shot).

Make sure that you use the type of insulin and needle 

for your kind of pen.

Do not share your insulin pen or cartridge with others.

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Insulin Pumps 

Insulin pumps are worn on the outside of your body. The 

pump is connected to your body by a flexible tube that has a 

tip that sticks under your skin. A cartridge of insulin is put in 

the pump. The insulin flows through the tube into your body. 

The pump controls how much insulin goes into your 

body.

The pump can give you insulin 24 hours a day.

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There are tools called injection aids that can make it easier for 

you to inject your insulin. There are tools to help people that 

have problems seeing and people with physical disabilities.

Ask your doctor about tools to help you inject your insulin.

Insulin Jet Injectors 

Insulin jet injectors use strong air pressure to spray insulin 

through the skin.

Insulin jet injectors do not use needles. 

Ask your health care provider to show you how to safely 

use your jet injector. 

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Insulin Devices

Insulin Tip:
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Tips for Insulin Devices

Each insulin device is different. This page lists some basic tips about insulin devices. 

Talk to your health care provider to learn everything you should know about your 

insulin device.

General Tips

Never share insulin needles (syringes) or devices.

Ask your doctor or nurse to show you how to inject your insulin.

Always wash your hands before you inject your insulin.

Do not inject your insulin in the exact same spot on your body each time. 

o The skin may get thick or thin if you use the same spot.

o Inject in the same general area of your body.

Do not use your insulin if it looks cloudy or looks like something is floating in it. Take it 

back to the drug store for a new one.

Do not use insulin needles (syringes), pens, and injectors after the expiration date printed 

on the label or on the box.

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Follow the directions on when to throw away the needles, pens or 

injectors.

You should throw away your used needles in a hard container like an 

empty laundry detergent bottle or a metal coffee can.

o Make sure the needles cannot poke through the container.

o Put a label on the container to warn people that it is dangerous.

o Keep the container where children cannot get to it.

o Always put a lid or top on the container.

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How to Throw Away Used Devices
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Learn More About Insulin and Diabetes

Resources from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Information on Women and Diabetes

www.fda.gov/womensdiabetes

Report a Serious Problem with Your Medicines

www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm

1-800-332-1088

FDA Diabetes Information on WebMD

www.webmd.com/fda/diabetes/default.htm

Other Resources

National Diabetes Education Program

www.ndep.nih.gov

1-888-693-6337

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

1-800-860-8747

American Diabetes Association

www.diabetes.org

1-800-DIABETES

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This booklet should not be used in place of talking to your doctor or reading 

the label on your medicine. The drug and risk information in this booklet may 

change. Check the FDA website for the latest facts on each product.

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/
You Can Control Your Diabetes

Make a plan. Work with your doctor, nurse, or diabetes educator to plan how you 

will manage your diabetes.

Check your blood sugar. Use your glucose meter to test your blood glucose (sugar) 

level.

Watch what you eat. Work with your health care team to come up with a meal 

plan just for you.

Use medicines wisely. Ask your health care provider when and how to safely use 

your diabetes medicines.

Be active and get exercise. Dance, take a walk, or join an exercise class. Check with 

your doctor about safe ways to be more active. 

Know your ABC’s: 

A - A-1-C blood test measures your blood sugar level over the last 3 months. The 

 A-1-C number should be less than 7 for most people.

B - Blood Pressure

C - Cholesterol

Monitor your overall mental and physical health. Work with your health care 

team to keep your feet, eyes, heart, and teeth healthy.

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Take Time To Care about Diabetes JUNE 2010

This booklet was developed by the U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of 

Women’s Health. To download free copies of 

this booklet and other diabetes materials visit:

www.fda.gov/womens