Insulin

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood glucose (sugar) levels. Insulin allows cells throughout the body to absorb glucose from the bloodstream and either use that glucose for energy or store it for the future. 

In people with diabetes—particularly type 1 diabetes and some cases of type 2 diabetes—the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. To manage this situation, some people require insulin therapy in the form of injections or insulin pumps.

Insulin is often combined with lifestyle changes and other medications to achieve optimal glucose control and reduce the risk of complications, such as nerve damage, kidney disease, and cardiovascular events.

Side effects of insulin therapy may include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), weight gain, and injection site reactions.

Humalog (insulin lispro) is indicated:

• To improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus

Rapid acting human insulin analog

Adverse reactions associated with Humalog include:

• Low blood sugar

• Allergic reactions

• Injection site reactions

• Abnormal distribution of fat

• Itch

• Rash

The cost of insulin may vary depending on factors such as dosage, formulation, insurance plan, and where you buy it. On average, insulin may cost $35 or less per month.

• Do not use during episodes of low blood sugar

• Do not use in patients with hypersensitivity to insulin lispro or any of the excipients in Humalog

• Drug interactions: Drugs that may increase the risk of low blood sugar (antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog [e.g., octreotide], sulfonamide antibiotics), drugs that may decrease the blood glucose lowering effect (atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens [e.g., in oral contraceptives], protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents [e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline], thyroid hormones), drugs that may increase or decrease the blood glucose lowering effect (alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, pentamidine), drugs that may blunt the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine)

• Never share a Humalog prefilled pen, cartridge, reusable pen compatible with Lilly 3 mL cartridges, or syringe between patients, even if the needle is changed

• High blood sugar or low blood sugar with changes in insulin regimen

• Low blood sugar: May be life-threatening

• Low blood sugar due to medication errors

• Hypersensitivity reactions: May be life-threatening

• Hypokalemia: May be life-threatening

• Fluid retention and heart failure with concomitant use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

• High blood sugar and ketoacidosis due to insulin pump device malfunction

*This information is from the label for brand name Humalog^®, which is a type of insulin lispro (a rapid-acting insulin). See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Insulin has many different types and names, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include insulin.