Do you inject insulin? Come and learn the correct way
According to incomplete statistics, only 37% of diabetic patients in my country who have used insulin have reached blood sugar standards. Insufficient injection is one of the important reasons for the low blood glucose compliance rate. In the outpatient clinic, I also meet patients with diabetes who ask how to inject insulin correctly?
Question: I was just diagnosed with diabetes and the doctor asked me to inject insulin for treatment. In order to treat diabetes, it is natural to suffer physical pain. What I am worried about is that I may have an accident due to improper operation during the injection of insulin. I hope to learn some knowledge about insulin injection.
Answer: Insulin is divided into rapid-acting, short-acting, medium-acting, long-acting, super-long-acting and premixed insulin types based on different peak effects and action times. Different types of insulin should also have slightly different injection times.
1. Insulin injected subcutaneously immediately before meals
Rapid-acting or premixed insulin analogues (insulin aspart, NovoRapid/Raxilin, insulin lispro Humalog/Sumulin, insulin glulisine Abeide, NovoRapid 30/Raxilin 30, NovoRapid 50, Humalog 25/Suxiulin 25, Humalog 50, etc.), injected immediately before meals.
2. Insulin injected subcutaneously 20 to 30 minutes before meals
Short-acting human insulin or premixed human insulin (Novolin R, Humulin R, Timeline R, Novolin 30R, Novolin 50R, Humulin Timeline 70/30, etc.), 20 hours before meals ~30 minutes for subcutaneous injection, otherwise it may cause hypoglycemia or poor blood sugar control.
3. Insulin injected before going to bed
Intermediate-acting insulin (Novolin N, Humulin N, etc.) lasts for 14 to 16 hours. Intermediate-acting insulin has an absorption peak and may cause hypoglycemia if used improperly. Therefore, it is best to inject before going to bed (22:00). If you inject it too early, you may be afraid of hypoglycemia at night.
4. Insulin injection before going to bed or every day
Long-acting insulin, such as insulin glargine (Lantus, Changxiulin) and insulin detemir, lasts for 18 to 24 hours and is suitable for diabetic patients with poor fasting blood sugar control.
5. Insulin injected at any time every day
Ultra-long-acting insulin (such as insulin degludec) can be injected once a day at a fixed time, providing a 24-hour basal insulin dose. Since it is still basal insulin, I routinely recommend patients to inject it before going to bed.
6. Insulin injected before any main meal every day
Insulin degluaspart, a new ultra-long-acting and rapid-acting dual insulin. Once a day, or twice a day.