Insulin Lente Injection

• If you are allergic to insulin or other ingredients of Insulin Lente Injection.
• If you have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level).

• Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia)
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Tiredness
• Feeling hungry
• Visual disturbances
• Headache
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Pain, redness, swelling at the site of injection

Other General Warnings

• You have recurrent low blood sugar levels.
• Take care about the symptoms of low blood sugar like sweating, anxiety, fast heartbeats, headache, intense hunger, restlessness, dizziness and irritability. If you experience these, have sugar (Do not consume artificial sweeteners). Eat something as soon as possible. Avoid taking insulin. If still the symptoms persist, seek medical help.
• You have fever and infections.
• You have liver and kidney diseases.
• You have thyroid disorders.
• You are taking different insulin medicine brands.
• You suffer from pain, itching and swelling at the injection site, you must change the site of injection.
• Avoid heavy exercise.
• You are changing your diet preferences.
• You must carry a sugar candy.
• You are using insulin but not taking adequate meals, your blood glucose drops drastically.

• Take Insulin Lente Injection as per the technique suggested by the doctor or nurse.
• The injection must be taken under the skin of the thigh or upper arm or abdomen.
• Do not take the injection in the vein or muscles.
• Pull a skin, fold up to take the injection.
• Wait for 6 seconds before removing the needle from the injection site.
• Rotate the site of injection and do not take concurrent injections at the same site.

• Store it between 2°C to 8°C in the refrigerator.
• Do not freeze it.
• Keep it away from children and pets.
• Avoid opening the carton of vials to protect it from light.
• The unused portion must not be stored and must be discarded.

Overdose

• Excess of Insulin Lente Injection leads to low blood sugar levels, called hypoglycemia. You may develop symptoms like dizziness, fainting, sweating and tremors.
• If you have the blood glucometer with you, test and confirm blood glucose levels.
• Whether or not you test the levels, it is important to take glucose water/juice/eat sugar or chocolates and then rush to the doctor.

Missed a Dose

• A missed dose may lead to high blood sugar levels which can cause symptoms like feeling thirsty, excessive urination, loss of appetite, drowsiness, a fruity smell from breath, etc.
• If you have missed taking a dose of the Insulin Lente Injection take it as soon as you remember. If it's time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with the regular dosing schedule.

How Does It Work?

• Insulin is an important hormone that allows the entry of blood glucose into each cell of the body. Inside the cell, glucose is used as fuel.
• In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the body fails to produce adequate insulin and leads to glucose accumulation in the blood and causes high blood glucose.
• The medicine lowers blood sugars by stimulating glucose uptake by cells, tissue and muscles, by skeletal muscles and fat and inhibits glucose production by the liver.

Interactions with other medicines

• You may develop symptoms of low blood sugar if you are taking other medicines for diabetes, depression (fluoxetine), medicines for fever and pain (salicylates), ramipril, lisinopril.
• You may suffer from high blood sugar if you are taking oral contraceptives, thiazide, steroids, thyroxine, medicines used to treat diarrhoea and abnormal growth of body organs like octreotide, lanreotide, etc.
• If you are using the medicine pioglitazone to treat diabetes, be cautious, as some cases of heart attacks and heart failures have been reported.
• Some medicines block the body's response to low blood sugar, so you may not experience symptoms like headache, hunger pangs, sweating, anxiety when the blood sugar drops. It leads to a fall in blood sugar. Inform the doctor if you are taking medicines like Beta-blockers (Metoprolol, Propranolol, Atenolol), Clonidine, Guanethidine and Reserpine.

Interactions with food items

• Take the medicine 15 mins before meals or within 20 minutes after starting a meal.
• Maintain a constant meal pattern when you are taking insulin.
• Avoid skipping or delaying meals when you are taking insulin.