INSULIN HUMAN, RAPID 100 IU/ml, 10ml, vial N
Valid Article
INSULIN RAPID human
Full Name
Actrapid®(DINJINSHR1VN)
Therapeutic Action
Pancreatic hormone, antidiabetic
Rapid-acting (or short-acting) human insulin
Action profile:
- onset of action: 30 mn
- peak action: 2 - 4 hrs
- duration of action: up to 8 hrs
Rapid insulin requires to be administered at least 30 minutes before the meal to best cover post-meal glycaemic excursions.
These action profiles are based on subcutaneous injections and are only approximations. They depend on the dose injected, the type and brand of insulin and are highly variable from one patient to another.
See Preliminary remarks on Insulins.
Indications
Management of acute hyperglycaemia
Insulin bolus given pre-meal to cover post-meal glucose peak.
Instructions for use
Must be given as deep SC injection.
Before using insulin for the first time, store it at room temperature for 1 or 2 hours (cold insulin is more painful).
Preparation for administration:
- Wash hands.
- Check the insulin vial (type and strength of insulin, expiry date) and the solution (clear, colourless and aqueous).
- Use an insulin syringe with fixed needle: 1 ml syringe graduated in 2 IU or 0.5 ml syringe graduated in 1 IU (intended for children).
- Stir the insulin by gently rolling the vial between the palms of the hands.
- Pull air into the syringe and inject air into the vial.
- Draw up the required dose of insulin into the syringe.
How to administer SC insulin:
- Insulin can be injected into the abdomen (two fingers away from the belly button), upper arm, buttocks, hips, buttocks, or the front or side of the thigh.
- Injecting insulin in the same area repeatedly can cause lumps, swelling and thickened skin, and it may keep insulin from absorbing properly. See the picture below on “rotating” injection sites.
- Do not inject insulin into areas that have wounds or bruising.
- Clean the chosen injection site with soap and water. Allow to dry.
- Pinch the skin.
- Hold the syringe like a pencil at a 90-degree angle to the skin and insert the needle with one quick motion.
- Inject the dose of insulin. Wait for 5 seconds before removing the needle from the skin.
- Apply gentle pressure on the injection site with the finger for 5-10 seconds to keep insulin from leaking out.
- Do not recap the syringe. Safety discard the needle into a sharps container.
Precautions for Use
Rapid-acting insulin is the only insulin that can be administered by IV infusion in 0.9% NaCl, in emergency only, under medical supervision with close monitoring of blood glucose and potassium levels.
Mixing two types of insulin (rapid and isophane) in the same syringe should be under strict medical prescription.
It is not recommended to switch the patient from insulin type or brand (manufacturer).
The manufacturer is identified by a letter at the end of the code and the label: N = Novo Nordisk, S = Sanofi, L = Lilly.
Caution! In order to simplify ordering and the medical list, the standard is the rapid insulin from Novo Nordisk (DINJINSHR1VN).
Storage
- Unopened vials: keep refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C - Protect from sunlight
- Keep the vial in the outer packaging.
- Opened vials (in-use) Actrapid®: may be kept for a maximum of 6 weeks not above 25ºC.
- Do not freeze. Discard any vial that has been frozen.