Patient was educated on administration and side effects of rapid acting insulins as follows:
- These rapid acting insulins are administered as subcutaneously shots and they provide faster relief for changes in your blood sugar.
- Because these drugs lower the blood sugars very fast, one should always check their blood sugars before taking these insulins. This is just to avoid hypoglycemic attacks, should the blood sugars be already low and taking these insulins can get the blood sugar further low and precipitate hypoglycemic attack.
- The blood sugars should be maintained, so that, they do not fall below 70 mg/dL.
- Also, while administering these insulins, one should plan both taking the insulin shot and eating within a short time range, as these insulins act very fast.
- Taking the shot and skipping to eat can bring down the blood sugar levels to dangerously low levels, thereby, precipitating hypoglycemic attacks.
- These rapid acting insulins are used commonly on the sliding scale treatments.
- Common side effects of Humalog and Novolog include: Diarrhea, weight gain, nausea, and headache.
- Serious side effects can also occur, while taking these insulins. These side effects can include reaction at the injection site, fluid retention and swelling, and low potassium levels in the blood.
