Humalog is a form of
insulin, which is a hormone that is naturally produced by the
pancreas. This hormone is important for several functions, such as controlling blood sugar. Insulin helps the cells of your body remove glucose ("sugar") from your bloodstream. This sugar fuels your body's cells, giving them the energy they need to work properly. You may need to take insulin if your pancreas has trouble making enough insulin, which is the case in people with
type 1 diabetes and in some people who have
type 2 diabetes.
Normally, your body is able to maintain proper levels of sugar in your blood and inside your cells. However, in people with type 1
diabetes (and sometimes type 2 diabetes), the pancreas has trouble making insulin. This causes too much sugar to accumulate in the blood. Too much sugar can also accumulate in the blood if your body has trouble responding to normal levels of insulin, as is common in type 2 diabetes. Over time, high levels of sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems in the eyes, feet, hands, kidneys, and heart.
Humalog is a rapid-acting insulin medication. It starts working quickly, produces a sharp peak in insulin levels, and drops off quickly. It is designed to help control the blood sugar spike that occurs after meals. Most people who take the drug will also need a long-acting insulin to provide a steady background level of insulin to help control blood sugar throughout the day.
When and How to Take Humalog
General considerations for when and how to take Humalog include the following:
- This diabetes medication comes in injectable form. It is injected just under the skin (subcutaneously) within 15 minutes before or after a meal. Alternatively, Humalog can be used in an insulin pump.
- Your healthcare provider should show you exactly how to inject the drug. It can be injected into the skin and fat layer of the abdomen (stomach), upper arm, or thigh. Choose one of these three areas, and rotate injection sites within your chosen area.
- Humalog comes in vials and in cartridges (for use in certain pen devices). To use the pen device, you will need specific types of needles known as "pen needles." Each time you inject the drug, you need to use a new needle. To use it from the vial, you will need insulin syringes with needles.
- Because Humalog is a solution, not a suspension, you don't need to shake or swirl it.
- Check with your healthcare provider before mixing Humalog with any other insulins in the same syringe. If you do mix it with other insulins, be sure to draw up Humalog into the syringe first and the other insulin second.
- For this diabetes drug to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Humalog will not work if you stop taking it. Make sure to monitor your blood sugar levels as your healthcare provider recommends.
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