Patient was educated on how to take Apidra as follows:
- Take the Apidra insulin shot at the same time every day, to avoid forgetting the shot. This also helps to avoid lags in insulin coverage or stacking up the doses of insulin too close. Forgetting the shot can precipitate an episode of elevated blood sugars.
- Since Apidra has a very short duration of onset of action, the shot must be taken 15 minutes before meal.
- Make sure you are having your meal within 15 minutes of having the shot. Do not go ahead and take the Apidra shot, if you are getting late on your meal. In such situation, defer taking the Apidra shot until 15 minutes before your meal time. Noncompliance with this rule can precipitate an episode of dangerously low blood sugar and hypoglycemic symptoms.
- Take a blood sugar reading always before you take the Apidra shot. Maintain a log of every day blood sugar readings for comparative feedback, as to how well Apidra is helping to control the blood sugars.
- If the blood sugar is too low, despite eating regularly and without skipping a meal, you can defer taking the Apidra shot for that dose and notify your doctor regarding the same. Keeping a track of frequency of such episodes of low blood sugars, despite eating regularly, can help your physician change the plan regarding managing your blood sugars.
- Also, notify your doctor, if the blood sugar continues to be high, despite taking Apidra as recommended, so that, your insulin dose could be revised.
- Maintain strict compliance with administration of Apidra shot as ordered, with regards to dosage and frequency, to derive the benefit of the medication.
- Do not change the dose on Apidra without consulting your doctor.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. Take a blood sugar reading and make sure your blood sugars are not too low, when you are administering your Apidra shot out of your regular scheduled time. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose.
