What it is used for
- Controlling blood glucose in type 1 diabetes as part of a complete insulin plan
- Controlling blood glucose in type 2 diabetes when a premixed insulin is needed
- Reducing post-meal glucose rises while providing a longer effect between meals
How it is used
- Use it under the skin only at the dose and meal-related time set by your diabetes team
- Gently resuspend the insulin exactly as the pen or cartridge leaflet directs until it is evenly cloudy before injection
- Inject into the abdomen, thigh, upper arm or buttock and rotate within the area to prevent skin lumps
- Use a new needle each time and never share the pen, cartridge or needles with anyone
- Check blood glucose as your team requests and carry a fast source of sugar and identification showing that you use insulin
Possible side effects
- Low blood glucose with sweating, shaking, hunger or confusion
- Redness, pain or itching at the injection site
- Fatty lumps or other skin changes after repeated injection in the same place
- Weight gain or swollen limbs
- Low potassium or a rare severe allergy
Who should not use it
- Do not inject it during an episode of low blood glucose
- Do not use it if you are allergic to insulin aspart, protamine or any ingredient in the product
- Do not give this suspension into a vein or through an insulin pump
Before and while using it
- Severe low glucose can cause seizures, unconsciousness or death; you and people around you should know the treatment and emergency plan
- Do not change the mixture type, proportion, pen or injection method except with the diabetes team and close glucose monitoring
- Food, activity, illness, vomiting, or changing kidney or liver function can alter your needs; contact the team instead of adjusting the dose yourself
- Repeated injection into skin lumps can cause high glucose, while suddenly moving to healthy skin can cause low glucose
- Check the insulin name and mixture proportion on the label before every injection to prevent a serious medicine error
- Breathing difficulty, facial swelling or a widespread rash after injection needs urgent help
Medicine interactions
- Other diabetes medicines can increase low glucose and may require the team to adjust the plan
- Beta blockers and some other medicines can hide the palpitations and shaking of low glucose
- Corticosteroids, some diuretics and stimulant medicines can raise glucose and increase insulin needs
- Alcohol can lower or raise glucose unpredictably; follow your diabetes team's advice
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Tell your diabetes team if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy; glucose control is important and insulin needs can change during pregnancy and after birth
- Insulin can normally be used while breastfeeding with glucose monitoring, and the plan may need adjustment
How to store it
- Store unopened pens or cartridges as the leaflet directs; do not freeze or expose them to excessive heat or light, and discard any product that has frozen
- After first use follow the product's stated storage period and temperature, and remove the needle from the pen after injection
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.