Humalog Mix is a premixed insulin. It is a mix of long- and short-acting insulins. It is used to reduce high blood sugar levels in patient with diabetes mellitus. The short-acting insulin helps to bring down high sugar level after a meal, while the long-acting insulin helps to control your blood sugar levels throughout the day.
Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
The most common side effect with the use of insulin is low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
Low blood sugar may occur if you:
Alcohol and some medicines can also affect your blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of low blood sugar are weakness, dizziness, hunger, sweating, trembling, blurred vision, walking unsteadily or fast heartbeat.
If you experience any of these low blood sugar symptoms, do the following immediately:
Step 1: Check your blood sugar with a home blood sugar meter (glucometer) if available. If your blood sugar level is less than 4 mmol/L, take 15 grams of sugar such as:
Step 2: You should feel better after 15 minutes. If you have a home blood sugar meter, you should check your blood sugar level again.
Step 3: If your blood sugar level is still less than 4 mmol/L or you still have symptoms of low blood sugar, you should take another 15 grams of sugar.
If your symptoms still do not get better, see a doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
Other side effects
Some patients may also experience mild pain, redness, inflammation, bruising, swelling, shrinking or thickening of the skin at the injection site. Continuous rotation of the injection site within the recommended areas for injections will reduce the chances of developing such reactions. They also usually go away in a few days to a few weeks.
You may also gain weight with insulin injections. Thus, you are encouraged to exercise regularly (at least 3 times a week) while on this medication.
See a doctor or go to the hospital immediately if your blood sugar level is always low and experience symptoms even after taking amounts of sugar (see instructions above for management of low blood sugar).
Inform your doctor if:
If your doctor has informed you that you need to do a fasting blood test, do not inject insulin until after you have your blood taken and are ready to eat.
Avoid taking alcohol with this medication.
Humalog Mix is given 15 minutes before meals as an injection into the fatty tissues under the skin. Use the injection technique advised by your doctor or nurse and as described in the manual. Ensure insulin appears uniformly cloudy or milky before using by gently rolling and turning the KwikPen up and down at least 10 times each. Do not use if there is any change to the color of the insulin, or if any particles or sediments are seen.
How to select an injection site
How to inject insulin
If you miss a dose, inject the next dose at the usual time. Do not inject two doses to make up for a missed dose.
If you forget to inject your insulin, your blood sugar may get too high (hyperglycemia). Check your blood sugar with a home blood sugar meter (glucometer). When your blood sugar is high for too long, you may experience increased urination, feeling thirsty, feeling sick (nausea or vomiting), feeling drowsy or tired, abdominal pain, flushed face and a fruity (acetone) smell of the breath. These may be signs of a very serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis where there is a build-up of acid in the blood because the body is breaking down fat instead of sugar. Please see the doctor immediately if you have the above symptoms.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately.
Please refer to the product insert which can be found in the medication box, for instructions for use of your specific insulin pen / penfill.
Store unopened insulin in a refrigerator between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. Do not freeze. Do not keep insulin in a hot place (e.g. in a hot, closed vehicle, on top of a television set) or expose it to heat or sunlight. Insulin that is exposed to direct sunlight for too long may give it a yellow-brown colour. Do not use the insulin if this happens.
Once the insulin is in use, it no longer has to be refrigerated, but should be thrown away after 4 weeks.
Keep this medication out of reach of children. Throw away all expired medicines.
If used at home, you may throw this injection away along with the used needles, into a metal tin, or glass jar or thick plastic container (e.g. detergent bottles) to prevent any needle stick injury.
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the updates to your email inbox...