What is insulin used for

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Products and services. Diabetes treatment: Using insulin to manage blood sugar Understanding how insulin affects your blood sugar can help you better manage your condition. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Insulin basics.

American Diabetes Association. Accessed June 14, Mantzoros C, et al. Insulin action. Davidson MB. Insulin therapy: A personal approach. Clinical Diabetes. McCulloch DC, et al. General principles of insulin therapy in diabetes mellitus. Accessed May 6, What is diabetes?

Afrezza prescribing information. Danbury, Conn. Accessed June 3, See also Medication-free hypertension control A1C test After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use? Air pollution and exercise Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar? Bariatric surgery Beta blockers Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?

Insulin is most commonly administered through a syringe, insulin pen , or insulin pump. The type of insulin injection you use will be based on your personal preference, health needs, and insurance coverage. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to give yourself the injections. You can inject the insulin under the skin in many different parts of your body, such as your:. Your doctor will likely also explain the importance of changing where on your body you inject insulin to prevent lumps or fatty deposits from forming at the injection site.

Learn more: How to give a subcutaneous injection. Both syringes and insulin pens use a small needle to inject insulin into your body. There are two ways to get your insulin without using a syringe or needle. Your doctor will decide if one of these options works for your personal needs. Insulin pumps :. Insulin inhalers :. However, injecting cold insulin may make the injection feel more painful. Insulin kept at room temperature can last about a month. Side effects from injecting or receiving insulin are rare, but can occur in certain cases.

The symptoms of mild allergic reactions are swelling, itching, or redness around the injection area. More severe insulin allergies may include nausea and vomiting. Hypoglycemia , or blood glucose levels that are too low, can sometimes occur when you take insulin. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:.

People living with type 1 diabetes must use insulin to help control their blood sugar, but those living with type 2 diabetes may be able to use oral medications to help manage their blood sugar instead of injections. Oral medication is typically prescribed along with lifestyle changes, such as increased activity, weight loss if applicable , and diet changes. Medications for type 2 diabetes are designed to lower blood glucose levels, but they may not work for everyone.

Typically, they work best for people who have recently developed diabetes and do not use supplemental insulin. Some medications include :. Before prescribing any of these oral medications, your doctor will talk with you about your medical history and any additional medications you take.

People living with type 2 diabetes can manage, and maybe even reverse, their diagnosis with lifestyle changes. There are a few ways to take insulin, from syringes, to insulin pens, to an insulin pump, or even with an inhaler.

Maintaining blood glucose levels helps reduce the risk of diabetes complications , such as blindness and the loss of limbs. In addition to insulin and oral medications, lifestyle changes can help prevent your blood glucose level from getting too high.

Insulin is a very important hormone in the body. Being resistant to its effects, termed insulin resistance, is a leading driver of many health…. Glucose, or blood sugar, is key to keeping the body in top shape. Read on to learn how it works, how to test it, and what to do if you have abnormal…. If not treated, high insulin levels can lead to serious health problems.

Here are 14 diet and lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your levels. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about where on your body you should inject human insulin.

You can inject your human insulin in the stomach , upper arm, upper leg, or buttocks. Do not inject human insulin into muscles, scars, or moles.

Use all available sites in the same general area before switching to a different area for example, the upper arm.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. It is important to eat a healthy diet and to eat about the same amounts of the same kinds of foods at about the same times every day. Skipping or delaying meals or changing the amount or kind of food you eat can cause problems with your blood sugar control.

When you first start using human insulin, ask your doctor what to do if you forget to inject a dose at the correct time. Write down these directions so that you can refer to them later. Store unopened vials of human insulin, unopened disposable dosing devices and unopened human insulin pens in the refrigerator. Do not freeze human insulin and do not use human insulin that has been frozen. Opened vials of human insulin should be stored in the refrigerator but may also be stored at room temperature, in a cool place that is away from heat and direct sunlight.

Store opened human insulin pens and opened dosing devices at room temperature. Check the manufacturer's information to find out how long you may keep your pen or dosing device after the first use. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them.

However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c should be checked regularly to determine your response to human insulin.

Your doctor will also tell you how to check your response to human insulin by measuring your blood or urine sugar levels at home. You should always wear a diabetic identification bracelet to be sure you get proper treatment in an emergency. Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Generic alternatives may be available. Human Insulin Injection pronounced as in' su lin. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used?

Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow?