4. Long-Acting Insulin
Long-acting insulin, or basal insulin, can work all day. That’s why long-acting insulin is mostly used at night and only used once a day.
Typically, patients take long-acting insulin with either rapid-acting or short-acting (bolus insulin) insulin.
Based on how they work and how they are used, basal insulin and bolus insulin can be said to be inversely related.
Here are some examples of long-acting insulin or basal insulin.
- Glargine (Lantus), able to reach the blood vessels in 1-1.5 hours and maintain blood sugar levels for approximately 20 hours.
- Detemir (Levemir), reaches the blood vessels in about 1-2 hours and works for 24 hours.
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba), enters the bloodstream in 30-90 minutes and works for 42 hours.
The dose of insulin for each person is also different. Your doctor may prescribe several combinations of insulin injection types for you.
Therefore, consult your doctor regarding the schedule and dose of insulin therapy that is right for your condition.
In general, the principle of giving insulin to diabetic patients is to start at a small dose and increase it gradually.
Insulin Injection Types: Insulin Pens
Injections can be difficult to administer. That’s why insulin treatment for diabetes is more practical with an insulin pen.
An insulin pen is a pen-shaped device that assists the process of injecting insulin. One of the advantages of insulin pens over other insulin injection types is that there is dose control. That way, you can inject insulin more easily in the right dose.
Injection using an insulin pen also tends to be more comfortable.
The needles are not very visible either. As a result, the insulin pen becomes more friendly for those who have a phobia of needles.
There are two types of insulin pens, namely disposable insulin pens and insulin pens that you can use repeatedly. These can last for several years. However, many experts recommend that patients use disposable insulin pens.
How To Store Insulin
Insulin injections are usually packaged in vials or cartridges. You must store this insulin bottle at a certain storage temperature.
Insulin usually lasts only one month at room temperature. Therefore, the best place to store insulin is in the refrigerator. That way, insulin can be preserved until its expiration date.
Here are some things you need to pay attention to when storing insulin.
- Avoid storing insulin injections in a closed room with temperatures that are too hot or too cold.
- Do not store injectable insulin in the freezer or close to the freezer compartment because insulin can freeze. Frozen insulin is no longer effective even after you have thawed it.
- Always check the expiration date of insulin before using it.
- Pay attention to the color of the insulin in the bottle. Make sure the color of the insulin has not changed from the first time you bought it.
- Do not use insulin when there is a change in color and consistency, or there are other particles in it.
- Do not store the insulin pen with the needle attached. Remove the needle when you are not using it to keep the device sterile.
- If you take injectable insulin with you when traveling, do not store it in a compartment that is too hot or cold.
- Do not leave insulin in a parked car during the day.
Different insulin injection types have different storage requirements. Make sure to read the instructions for use on the packaging.
Learn more about Diabetes here.
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