What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking insulin zinc?
Do not use insulin zinc if you are allergic to insulin or if you have intolerance to a certain insulin
zinc product.
Before using insulin, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or if you take
other prescription or over-the-counter medications, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
supplements.
Before using insulin zinc, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease. You may
require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
Most insulins can be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding. They are not expected to be
harmful to an unborn baby. It is very important to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy and
breast-feeding and insulin is often chosen as the treatment. Some types of insulin may be better than
others for use during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Talk to your doctor about the use of insulin during
pregnancy and breast-feeding.
How should I take insulin zinc?
Use insulin zinc exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions,
ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.
If insulin zinc has been stored in the refrigerator, it can be warmed to room temperature before
use. Also, roll it slightly between your hands to be sure that it is mixed. Never shake an insulin zinc
suspension vigorously.
If you are mixing different types of insulins in the same syringe, follow your doctor's directions
and always draw up the different insulins in the same order (usually the clear insulin first). This may help
prevent a dosage error. Do not mix different insulins in the same syringe unless specifically directed to
do so by your doctor. Some types of insulins should not be mixed.
Do not use any insulin that is discolored, looks thick, has particles in it, or looks different
from previous bottles, cartridges, or pens of insulin zinc.
Change injection sites as directed by your doctor. Usually, you should not inject within 1 inch of
the same site within 1 month.
Never reuse a needle or syringe. Dispose of all needles and syringes in an appropriate,
puncture-resistant disposal container.
Do not change the insulin strength (e.g., U-100) or insulin type (e.g., zinc, regular, lispro, etc.)
unless your doctor recommends a change for you.
Do not change the brand of insulin zinc or syringe that you are using without first talking to your
doctor or pharmacist. Some brands of insulin zinc and syringes are interchangeable, while others are
not. Your doctor and/or pharmacist know which brands can be substituted for one another.
Follow any diet and exercise plan that you have developed with your doctor or nurse. Changes
in what you eat or how much you exercise can change the amount of insulin that you need to control
your blood sugar levels.
Ask your doctor or nurse what to do if you are sick with a cold, flu, or fever. These illnesses
may change your insulin requirements.
Your healthcare provider may recommend regular monitoring of blood sugar levels with blood
or urine tests.
Wear some type of medical identification bracelet, necklace, or other alert tag to inform others
that you have diabetes and that you require insulin in the case of an emergency.
Proper foot care, eye care, dental care, and overall proper health care are important for people
with diabetes. Visit your doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and other heath care practitioners as
recommended by your doctor.
Store
unopened vials
of insulin zinc the refrigerator between 36 and 46
degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius), in the original carton. Do not store insulin zinc in the
freezer and do not allow it to freeze. Do not use insulin zinc if it has been frozen. Throw away any
expired insulin zinc.
Vials of insulin zinc can be kept unrefrigerated for up to 28 days, but should not be exposed
to excessive heat or sunlight.
Once punctured, the insulin vial in use, whether stored in the refrigerator or at room
temperature, must be used within 28 days. Throw away any unused insulin 28 days after the vial is first
punctured.