How to Take Humalog
Humalog is a rapid-acting insulin that must be injected into your body. It starts lowering blood sugar more quickly and works for a shorter period of time compared to regular human insulin. This means that your dose of Humalog should be given within 15 minutes before or immediately after a meal. The short time that Humalog works also means that if you have type 1 diabetes, you need to use a longer-acting insulin to get the best blood sugar control (except when using an external insulin pump).
If you have type 2 diabetes, Humalog may be used without a longer-acting insulin when used in combination with sulfonylureas. How long Humalog works may vary in different individuals or at different times in the same individual, based on dose, injection site, blood supply, temperature, and physical activity.
How and where to give yourself Humalog
There is more than one way to take Humalog, including a traditional syringe, insulin pen, or external insulin pump. The prefilled Humalog® KwikPen™ can make it easy to carry your mealtime insulin just about anywhere. Before use, carefully read the User Manual.
Knowing exactly where on your body you should give your injection each day is very important. In general, you can give an injection anywhere there is a layer of fat under the skin. Never inject Humalog into a muscle or vein. The chart below shows sites for your insulin injections in the purple grid areas. Each square is a place to give yourself an injection. You may need help from a family member to give injections in some of the sites.
Rotating sites
For your insulin to work best, it's important to use a different location for each injection. This is called "site rotation," and involves following a regular pattern as you move from site to site. If you take more than one injection each day, use a different area for each injection. Different people use different patterns, but the intent should always be to use all of the areas and the sites. When you do this, no one site will be used too often. Overusing a site can cause tissue changes that lower or change insulin absorption.
Giving an injection takes practice. If you are having trouble in the beginning, be sure to talk to your diabetes educator. Also, you can view Vial and Syringe Instructions for more helpful information and detailed instructions for giving injections.
Determining your dose
How much insulin you need depends on you. Your healthcare provider will work with you to figure out your individual needs. In general, your mealtime dose is matched to what and how much you eat, with adjustments made for your current blood sugar level. However, there are several things, such as your weight, stress level, current medications, and level of physical activity, that affect how your body uses insulin. Checking your blood sugars will also help you determine your insulin needs. When your blood sugars are near target most of the time, you've reached the right doses. Individual blood sugar targets can vary, so work with your healthcare team to determine the most appropriate targets for you.
If you are changing from another insulin to Humalog, your dose or dosage schedule may need to be changed. Check your blood sugar levels and talk to your healthcare team about how you are feeling and to receive more information about dosing. Starting or changing insulin therapy should be done cautiously and only under medical supervision.
