NPH insulin: how to take it safely
Insulatard, Humulin N
Reviewed by Pharm. Abeeb Junior
What it is for
An intermediate-acting insulin that controls blood sugar for about 12 to 18 hours.
How to take it
- Prescription medicine: take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist told you.
- Inject under the skin as your health worker taught you. Change the injection spot each time.
- Check the label to make sure you have the right type.
- Never share pens or needles.
When to take it
Inject once or twice a day, as prescribed.
Take it with
Make sure you eat regularly through the day.
What to avoid
- Skipping meals or exercising hard without eating.
- Alcohol.
- Storing it in heat. Keep unopened insulin in the fridge, and opened insulin as the leaflet says.
- Changing the dose or type on your own.
- Using it without rolling the pen or vial gently first. It is cloudy and must be mixed well.
Possible side effects
Low blood sugar, weight gain, skin changes or lumps at injection sites.
Get help if
Signs of low blood sugar (sweating, shaking, hunger, confusion): take sugar straight away. Fainting, fits, or high sugar with vomiting and fast breathing: get emergency help.
This is general information, not personal medical advice. Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions and read the leaflet that comes with your medicine. Medicines and doses can differ between products and people.