Types of Insulin
Five main types of insulin are used in the treatment of
diabetes:
- Rapid-acting
- Short-acting
- Intermediate-acting
- Long-acting
- Premixed.
Each type of insulin works at different speeds. Many people take two types. After a short time, you will get to know when your insulin starts to work, when it works its hardest to lower blood glucose, and when it finishes working. You will learn to match your meal times and exercise times to the time when each insulin dose you take works in your body.
How quickly or slowly insulin works in your body depends on:
- Your own response
- The place on your body where you inject insulin
- The type and amount of exercise you do and the length of time between your shot and exercise.
Injecting Insulin
You can inject insulin into several places on your body. Insulin injected near the stomach works fastest. Insulin injected into the thigh works slowest. Insulin injected into the arm works at medium speed. Ask your doctor or diabetes teacher to show you the right way to take insulin and in which parts of the body to inject it.
Storing Insulin
If you use a whole bottle of insulin within 30 days, keep that bottle at room temperature. On the label, write the date that is 30 days away. That is when you should throw out the bottle, even if insulin is left in it. If you do not use a whole bottle of insulin within 30 days, store it in the refrigerator all the time.
Keep at least one extra bottle of each type of insulin you use in your house. Store extra insulin in the refrigerator.
If insulin gets too hot or too cold, it breaks down and does not work. Do not keep insulin in very cold places, such as the freezer, or in hot places, such as by a window or in the car's glove compartment during warm weather.
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