Best Time Of Day To Take Insulin

Factors For Deciding The Best Time To Take Tresiba

Tresiba has interactions with certain other medications. So, its important that you discuss with your doctor the timings you should take Tresiba while on other medications or if you can use other medications while on Tresiba.

However, if you take any other medications or supplements in addition to Tresiba, its recommended that you allow a few hours apart before taking Tresiba.

If youre consuming alcohol, your insulin needs might also change. Your blood sugar level may either rise or fall.

Therefore, you should monitor your blood sugar level accurately and more often than usual if you choose to consume alcohol and then decide on a time when you should take Tresiba.

When Should I Not Take Lantus

• You should not use Lantus if you are having a episode of hypoglycemia
• You should not use Lantus if you are hypersensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients in Lantus injections.
• Lantus is not recommended for use in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Lantus is a man made form of a long acting insulin that is given by injection to diabetic patients, to lower their high blood sugar levels. Lantus is designed to give a steady level of insulin over 24 hours, even when you are not eating such as between meals and overnight. This helps keep blood glucose levels consistent during the day and at night.

When Lantus is given as an injection, it is slowly absorbed and reaches a steady level, which gives the blood sugar lowering effect that lasts for 24 hours.

When’s The Best Time To Take Extended

Metformin extended-release , also listed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine as metformin hydrochloride or metformin HCL, is a once-a-day medication that can be taken as a pill or a liquid.

Metformin HCL is metabolized slowly, over 24 hours, which helps reduce GI side effects. Metformin ER is often a good option for people who experience adverse GI symptoms with standard metformin.

Metformin HCL should be taken at night, with food. Elizabeth Halprin, MD, clinical director of adult diabetes at Boston’s Joslin Diabetes Center, explains why timing metformin HCL with the evening meal is so important. “In normal physiology, a person’s liver often makes glucose overnight,” she says. “So, it’s not uncommon for a person to go to bed with a good blood glucose level and wake up with a higher one because their liver has been releasing sugar .”

Metformin turns off or slows down this process, so it can be more effective at night in treating fasting high blood sugar.

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When Is The Right Time To Take Your Insulin

Posted on December 4, 2014 by DiabetesDigest.com Staff in Blogs, Diabetes Digest

If you take insulin and struggle to manage high and low blood glucose numbers, one reason may be the timing of your injections. Coordinating when you take your insulin with the timing of your meals, your physical activity, and other parts of your diabetes care plan can help. Here are some tips to help you time your insulin just right.

Take insulin at regularly scheduled times. The more often you are able to take your insulin at the same time each day, the easier it becomes to keep your blood glucose in control. This isnt always easy. If you want a more flexible insulin plan, talk with your health care provider about taking more injections, using a long-acting and rapid-acting insulin plan, using an insulin pen or switching to an insulin pump.

Eat at about the same times each day. Doing so also makes it easier to manage your blood glucose.

When you eat, you need insulin readily available. This will help to keep your blood glucose level from going too high. Carbohydrates in food make blood glucose rise. Its easier to keep blood glucose from going too high by having insulin in your body when you eat rather than trying to lower blood glucose that has already gotten too high.

Paying attention to timing wont solve all of the ups and downs of blood glucose levels, but it can help to make managing your diabetes a bit easier.

Diabetes and Arthritis

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS

MEDICATIONS

Dont Switch Your Insulin Dose Or Stop Taking It Without Seeing Your Doctor First

Switching your insulin medication or changing the dose without asking a doctor can put you at risk for serious side effects and complications.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you should be seeing your doctor or endocrinologist for a checkup roughly every 3 to 4 months. At your appointment, your doctor can assess your individual insulin needs and give you proper training on new doses or dosing methods.

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Tip #: You Can Reuse Needles But

Many people who have diabetes reuse their needles to save money. Although this carries some risks and isnt recommended, its generally considered acceptable up to a certain point especially if its for personal use only. Never share needles.

If youre planning to reuse needles and lancets, make sure that you place the cover on the lancet device and syringe. Dont try to recover the needle, as you can poke yourself. Also, dont clean the needle with alcohol, as it can remove the needles silicone covering.

Dispose of a needle after using it five times, or if it is bent or has touched something other than your skin. When you get rid of needles, make sure to put them in a big, hard-plastic container that you label properly. Dispose of this container following your states guidelines.

How To Lower Morning Blood Sugar

Trying to learn how to lower morning blood sugar? Heres why your glucose levels rise in the morning and a few things you can try to keep them in range.

Waking up with high glucose levels may feel like it doesn’t make sense. You spend several hours asleep, not consuming any carbs, and yet somehow your glucose levels are still high when you wake up in the morning.

Why does this happen? What can you do to make sure your glucose levels are safely in range in the morning? Learn more about some tips on avoiding high morning blood sugar levels so you can start your day off right.

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Lower Back Hips Or Buttocks

The final site for administering an insulin injection is the lower back or hip.

To administer an injection here, draw an imaginary line across the top of the buttocks between the hips.

Place the needle above this line but below the waist, about halfway between the spine and the side.

As with the upper arm, this site is very difficult to use for self-injection and may require another person for administration. When injecting into the buttocks, avoid the lower part.

The body absorbs insulin at different speeds from each of the sites. This information can be useful when planning insulin injections:

• Abdomen: Insulin enters the bloodstream most quickly after an abdominal injection.
• Upper arms: The body absorbs insulin with moderate speed but slower than an injection in the abdomen.
• Lower back and thighs: Insulin enters the bloodstream most slowly from these sites.
• Administer rapid-acting insulin into the abdomen right after a meal for the fastest results.

Inject long-acting and intermediate-acting insulin into the other sites, as rapid absorption would reduce the effectiveness of these types. Insulin works more efficiently over the entire time it needs to because of the slower absorption rate.

Exercise can increase the absorption rate of insulin. If planning a workout or physical activity, account for these when planning injections.

Wait to for at least 45 minutes after the injection to exercise a part of the body that is near the injection site.

Why Does Blood Sugar Go Up In The Morning What Is The Dawn Phenomenon

There are a few main reasons why your glucose levels may be higher in the morning. One of these is known as the dawn phenomenon.

The dawn phenomenon occurs early in the morning between 3 am and 8 am while you are still asleep. As morning approaches, the body naturally signals your liver to produce glucose, giving your body the energy it needs for the start of the day. Caused by changes in hormonal levels, the dawn phenomenon happens to all people, with or without diabetes. However, for those without diabetes, insulin levels increase and they do not experience hyperglycemia.

Another reason you may experience higher morning glucose levels is because your injected insulin wears off. If your body has insufficient insulin during the night, your glucose levels may start to rise. To combat this, you may consider trying a new basal insulin, adjusting the timing and amount of your basal dose , or changing your nighttime basal rates .

The last reason you may experience higher morning glucose levels is known as the Somogyi effect. This occurs if your glucose levels fall too low during the night, caused by too much insulin or medication. To respond, your liver produces more glucose to try to maintain your glucose levels, which may result in hyperglycemia. The Somogyi effect is not as common as the other reasons described.

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When’s The Best Time To Take Standard Metformin

Metformin comes in two varieties: standard and extended release. Standard metformin is typically taken two or three times per day, either as a pill or a liquid, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Metformin should always be taken with food to help reduce gastrointestinal side effects such as stomach pain or discomfort. Typically, it’s best to take standard metformin both in the morning and in the evening, such as with the first and last meal of the day.

If you are taking a third dose, be sure to consult with your doctor about the best time to take it.

General Insulin Needs To Help Decide When To Take Tresiba

Each persons basal insulin requirement is unique.

But in general, basal insulin needs are at their peak during the early morning hours and lower in the middle of the day.

However, ones basal insulin needs will depend upon which stage of life they are in. This is because of all the different hormones that are present at different life stages.

Therefore, a persons growth over the years has a huge impact on the best time to take Tresiba, or when you should take any long-acting insulin.

Below is a short breakdown of basal insulin needs based on age:

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Avoiding Injection Bruises And Lumps

Bruising can happen when you catch a tiny blood vessel under the skin where you have injected. It is quite normal for this to happen occasionally when you are injecting regularly and youre not doing anything wrong.

If you are concerned, you could make an appointment with your diabetes specialist nurse who will be able to do a review of your injection technique. In some cases, bleeding and bruising can be reduced by something as simple as using a different sized needle or changing your needle after each injection.

Some people notice hard lumps that can form if you inject in the same place too often. This might be lipohypertrophy , or could be something called cutaneous amyloidosis. These lumps can stop the insulin from working properly, so make sure you rotate where you inject and choose a different spot each time. If you notice any lumps, especially if they’re not going away, speak to your healthcare professional for more advice.

Other side effects from injecting a lot can be itching, rashes and other skin irritations. Changing where you inject helps with this too. You can also get treatments from your local pharmacy that can will help with the irritation.

Insulin For Type 2 Diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes and your doctor thinks insulin can help you, it doesnt mean you now have type 1 diabetes. You still have type 2 diabetes, but you’ve changed treatment.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may not need to use insulin straight away. But some people have very high blood sugar levels when they are first diagnosed. Insulin can be used as a short-term treatment to help quickly bring down your blood sugar levels.

Some people may need to take insulin for a particular reason, like during pregnancy or a severe illness, or after surgery. But you may also need to start it as a treatment if other medications havent helped managed your blood sugar levels or are not appropriate for you.

If you need insulin it isnt your fault and it doesnt mean you havent managed your diabetes well. It’s simply another medication that can help to keep you as healthy as possible. Managing blood sugars effectively is really important in reducing your risk of future diabetes complications and insulin may be the most appropriate treatment choice for you. Many people with type 2 diabetes need to use it as treatment at some point.

Its still important to keep going to your appointments and manage your condition with healthy lifestyle choices. Staying active and eating a healthy diet will reduce the risk of complications from your diabetes.

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How Should I Use Tresiba

Use Tresiba exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Tresiba is injected under the skin, usually once daily at any time of day. A healthcare provider will teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

Tresiba must not be given with an insulin pump, or mixed with other insulins. Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t understand all instructions.

A dose counter on the injection pen shows your dose in units. Do not convert your dose. Use the U-100 vial for a child whose dose is less than 5 units per day.

Do not inject Tresiba into skin that is damaged, tender, bruised, pitted, thickened, scaly, or has a scar or hard lump.

Never share an injection pen with another person, even if the needle has been changed. Sharing these devices can allow infections or disease to pass from one person to another.

You may have low blood sugar and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar . Be sure you know how to use a glucagon injection kit if your doctor prescribes one.

Also watch for signs of high blood sugar such as increased thirst or urination.

Storing unopened Tresiba:

• Refrigerate and use until expiration date or

• Store at room temperature and use within 8 weeks .

When Should You Take Insulin

The answer to this question depends on a few things. Most importantly, though, is the type of insulin that you take. For example, fast- or rapid-acting insulins, such as lispro , glulisine , and aspart , are meant to be taken 10 to 15 minutes before eating. The new fast-acting insulin Fiasp is taken right at the start of a meal or within 20 minutes of starting a meal. Fiasp starts to work a couple of minutes after you inject it.

What about other insulins? Heres the rundown:

Regular insulin, which is a short-acting insulin, is generally taken 15 to 30 minutes before your meal.

NPH, an intermediate-acting insulin, is typically given 30 to 60 minutes before a meal or at bedtime.

Long-acting insulins, such as glargine and detemir , are often taken at bedtime, but also in the morning. Because these insulins are considered to be peakless and are types of basal insulin, taking them is not dependent on your meal times. However, its usually recommended that you take long-acting insulins at about the same time each day, give or take an hour.

Your doctor or diabetes educator may suggest that you take your insulin differently in some situations. For example, if you have gastroparesis , you might have better blood glucose results by delaying your injection instead of taking it before you eat.

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Tip #: Rotate The Injection Site

The place where you inject insulin can have a huge impact on your treatment and blood sugar levels. Insulin gets transported into the bloodstream at different speeds when injected in different areas of the body. Insulin shots are fastest if injected in the abdomen, and slowest when injected in the thighs or buttocks.

Most people who have diabetes inject long-acting insulin in the abdomen since they need to do so only once or twice a day. Make sure that you avoid the area around the belly button and dont inject exactly in the same location every time.

Injecting insulin in the same area over and over again can cause hard lumps to develop. This is known as lipohypertrophy. These hard lumps are caused by the presence of fatty deposits. In the long run, they can alter the absorption rate of the insulin.

Insulin Sensitivity And Your Dose

You may hear your healthcare professional talk about insulin sensitivity. This is how well your body is using insulin to get your blood sugar levels down. People with high sensitivity need less insulin than those with low sensitivity.

Your healthcare professional can test you for insulin sensitivity, and this will help them decide what dose of insulin you will need, and if insulin of you need it at all.

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Important Tips To Remember About Using An Insulin Pen:

• Always check your medicine type and the expiration date printed on the box before you leave the pharmacy.
• Store unopened pens in the refrigerator. They will be good until the expiration date printed on the box. Write the date on the insulin pen when you first open it.
• Store open insulin pens at room temperature. Avoid temperatures that are too hot or too cold. This can change how the insulin works.
• Most pens are good for 28 days once opened. Check with your pharmacist or read the drug insert for exact instructions.
• Do not use insulin pens that have lumps, are discolored or have been frozen.
• Place used pen needles and lancets for blood sugar testing in a hard plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tight lid, or a commercial sharps container.
• If you have questions about the subcutaneous injection procedure, please ask your healthcare providers.
• The most common side effect of insulin is low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar happens when the level of sugar in the blood falls below 70 mg/dl. Symptoms include sleepiness, shaking, sweating, dizziness and hunger. Be sure you know how to treat low blood sugar before you start using insulin.