Human Insulin
About Human Insulin
Human Insulin is an injectable medicine used to treat diabetes mellitus, including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It works by helping control high blood sugar levels in your body. Keeping your blood sugar managed is essential to prevent long-term health complications.
For best results, you must inject Human Insulin consistently as directed by your healthcare provider, typically before meals. Making daily dietary changes, such as monitoring your carbohydrate intake, and engaging in regular physical activity are crucial parts of your treatment plan.
While injecting Human Insulin, you may experience common side effects like mild low blood sugar or irritation at the injection site. However, if you experience serious symptoms such as severe low blood sugar, confusion, or a widespread allergic reaction, you must seek medical attention immediately.
Talk to your doctor before starting this medicine if you have a history of kidney disease, liver damage, or heart failure. Do not inject this medicine during episodes of low blood sugar or if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients.
Certain substances, including alcohol, can interact with Human Insulin and cause unpredictable changes in your blood sugar levels. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, consult your doctor or pharmacist to ensure you are managing your dose safely.
Uses of Human Insulin
Medicinal Benefits
Human Insulin helps support better blood sugar management by improving how your body controls glucose levels. Consistent use, along with a balanced diet and regular physical activity, can help maintain healthier blood sugar levels and support overall diabetes care.
Benefits may include:
- Human Insulin helps improve blood glucose control, reducing the risk of symptoms associated with high blood sugar, such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
- By helping keep blood sugar levels within the recommended range, Human Insulin may reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications affecting organs such as the kidneys, nerves, eyes, and heart when used as part of a complete treatment plan.
- Better blood sugar control may help reduce fluctuations in energy levels and support overall quality of life for people managing diabetes.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor's instructions regarding the dosage and duration of treatment.
- Human Insulin should be administered subcutaneously (under the skin) in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
- Rotate the injection site each time to prevent skin damage.
- Never reuse needles or syringes and never share needles, syringes, cartridges, or pens.
Storage
Side Effects of Human Insulin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Redness, swelling, or mild itching at the injection site
- Thickening or pitting of the skin where you inject (lipodystrophy)
- Mild weight gain
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Severe low blood sugar (symptoms include sweating, shaking, confusion, dizziness, fast heartbeat, or fainting)
- Severe allergic reactions (symptoms include a widespread skin rash, hives, shortness of breath, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat)
- Sudden weight gain or swelling in your ankles or feet (which could indicate heart problems, especially if taken with certain other diabetes drugs)
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect the liquid before use: Do not inject Human Insulin if it looks cloudy, contains clumps, or has changed colour (unless your specific type is supposed to be uniformly cloudy, as advised by your pharmacist).
- Rotate injection sites: Always rotate your injection sites to prevent hard lumps or skin damage from developing under your skin.
- Do not share injections: Never share your injection pens, syringes, or needles with anyone else, even if the needle has been changed, to avoid spreading infections.
- Injection Safety: Always use a new, sterile needle for every single injection.
- Medical Identification: Wear a medical identification bracelet or carry a card stating that you have diabetes and use Human Insulin.
Drug Interactions
- Other diabetes medicines: May increase the risk of low blood sugar when used with Human Insulin. Your doctor may need to adjust your medicines or monitor your glucose levels more closely.
- ACE inhibitors: May enhance the blood sugar-lowering effect of Human Insulin, which can increase the chance of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).
- Beta-blockers: May hide some warning signs of low blood sugar, such as a fast heartbeat or palpitations, making it harder to recognise an episode early.
- Corticosteroids: May reduce the blood sugar-lowering effect of Human Insulin and may lead to higher blood glucose levels.
- Thyroid medications: May affect blood sugar control in some people and may require closer monitoring when taken with Human Insulin.
- Atypical antipsychotics: May interfere with glucose regulation and can make blood sugar levels harder to control while using Human Insulin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is advised to avoid alcohol intake since it may worsen the side effects and increase the risk of developing low blood sugar levels.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is advised to use Human Insulin in pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk. Please consult your doctor before starting Human Insulin if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
cautionHuman Insulin should be used in breastfeeding mothers only if clinically needed.
Driving
cautionYour driving may be affected if your blood sugar levels are too high or too low. Do not drive or operate machinery if you also experience blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness due to extremely low or high blood sugar.
Liver
cautionHuman Insulin should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine before prescribing it.
Kidney
cautionHuman Insulin should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine before prescribing it.
Children
cautionHuman Insulin is not recommended for use in children below 2 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Diet: Maintain a consistent eating schedule and count your daily carbohydrates carefully to avoid sudden blood sugar spikes or drops.
- Exercise: Engage in regular, moderate exercise, but check your blood sugar levels before, during, and after physical activity to ensure they remain safe.
- Managing low blood sugar: Always carry a fast-acting source of sugar, such as glucose tablets or candy, with you at all times in case of sudden low blood sugar.
- Blood sugar monitoring: Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly throughout the day and keep a log of your readings to share with your doctor.
Special Advise
If you feel any symptoms of hypoglycemia (fatigue, dizziness, confusion, heart palpitations, shakiness and anxiety), consult your doctor immediately.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Diabetes mellitus: It is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys its own cells in the pancreas, thereby producing no insulin. It often occurs in childhood. Type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) occurs when the insulin (a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas) is resistant to breaking down glucose to produce energy (insulin resistance) or the pancreas produces little or no insulin at all. Symptoms include frequent urination, increased thirst, hunger, and blurred vision. The treatment includes oral glucose-lowering medicines and insulin shots.
FAQs
Human Insulin is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Human Insulin works by increasing the glucose uptake by fats and muscles, suppressing the production of glucose in the liver, and also the formation of glycogen from glucose. Thereby, Human Insulin helps in reducing the glucose levels in the blood.
In hypoglycemia, blood sugar levels decrease significantly. It causes symptoms such as dizziness, headache, sweating, hunger, loss of consciousness, rapid breathing, or seizure (fits). In such cases, seek medical attention immediately.
If you experience low blood sugar, eat glucose tablets, chocolate, or another high-sugar snack, such as a sweet or biscuit. Use a blood glucose monitor to test your blood sugar levels after 15 minutes if possible.
Do not stop taking Human Insulin without consulting your doctor on your own, as it may cause an increase in blood glucose levels. Continue taking Human Insulin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking Human Insulin.
You are recommended to avoid white bread, maida, poori, naan, noodles, biryani, fried rice, corn flakes, cheese, ice creams, milkshakes, beef, pork, sugarcane juice, soft drinks, sweetened health drinks and beverages. Also, avoid mango, seetaphal, jack fruit, fruit salads with ice cream, and fruit-based desserts.
No, do not stop taking Human Insulin without consulting your doctor as it may lead to high blood sugar levels and may worsen your condition resulting in complications. If you experience any side effects or discomfort, contact your doctor. You may need dose adjustment.
Taking an injection at the same site may cause local irritation, itching and lump formation. Therefore, it is best to avoid taking injections at the same site or maintain a gap of at least one day.
Maintain a diet that includes chapatis, puffed rice with vegetables, multigrain bread, plain cooked dal, roasted grams soups, sprouts, cooked vegetables with less oil, steamed vegetables, orange, jamun, guava, watermelon, apple, papaya, curd, cow’s milk, thin buttermilk, fish (baked, grilled, or steamed), cashew nuts, peanuts, and walnuts (handful). Avoid alcohol consumption and quit smoking. Exercise regularly and walk briskly daily for 30 minutes. Also, limit intake of sugar.
The risk factors for developing low blood sugar levels include not taking adequate meals or skipping meals, excessive insulin use, too much alcohol intake, fever and too much exercise. Some medications, like other diabetes medicines, glimepiride, medicines used for fever and pain (salicylates), ramipril, etc., can result in such episodes when used with insulin. Inform your doctor about these episodes, as you may need a dose adjustment.
It depends on whether you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or type 2. If you have type 1 diabetes, Human Insulin should be used for the rest of your life as your body does not produce adequate insulin and the only treatment available is external source of insulin which cannot be stopped. However, if you have type 2 diabetes mellitus, the doctor may stop Human Insulin if your blood sugar levels are well controlled with healthy diet, exercise and other diabetic medications. However, do not stop taking it on your own without consulting your doctor as it may worsen your condition.
Human Insulin can be used with other diabetes medicines only if prescribed by a doctor. Thus, please consult a doctor before using Human Insulin with other medicines.
Human Insulin is injected under the skin in the areas such as thighs, buttocks, abdomen or upper arms. Never inject Human Insulin into a muscle or vein. However, it is recommended to rotate your injection sites with each dose to reduce the risk of developing pitted or thick skin and lumps at the injection site. Inject Human Insulin as shown by the doctor.
It is advised to take doctor’s advice before using Human Insulin if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. Your doctor will prescribe Human Insulin if benefits are greater than the risks.
Yes, Human Insulin is safe to use in type 2 diabetes if used as advised by the doctor. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. Your dosage may need to be changed as per your needs. Follow the lifestyle changes as advised by your doctor. Discuss with your doctor about the managing and preventing side effects.
The side effects of Human Insulin include injection site reactions such as swelling, itching or redness, weight gain, and swelling due to fluid retention. Also, it may cause lipodystrophy (skin thickening or pits at the injection site). To avoid this side effect, rotate injection site for each dose.
Yes, Human Insulin cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) as the most common side effect. It occurs more frequently if you skip meals or delay food, drink alcohol, over-excessive or use other antidiabetic medications along with Human Insulin. So, do not skip meals and be consistent in amount and timing of your meals. If you over exercise, take some snacks as per your requirement. It is important to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. Always carry some fruit juice, sugary candies, glucose, or glucon-D with you. If you notice any fluctuations in your blood sugar levels, consult your doctor.
If you experience weight loss or gain, increased stress, illness, dietary changes such as missed meals or alcohol consumption, then you should consult your doctor for dose adjustment. If you have recently changed your workout routine or are taking any medicines, your dose may need to be changed. Also, lookout for certain side effects caused by Human Insulin. Your doctor will advise you on how to prevent them. These side effects are usually temporary but if they are very severe, you may need dose adjustments.
Human Insulin needs to be refrigerated before its first use. Unopened vials, disposable dosing devices and human insulin pens must be stored in a refrigerator where the temperature is between 2°C to 8°C. Do not freeze and do not use Human Insulin that has been frozen. When the cartridge has been inserted into the injection pen, it should not be refrigerated and should be kept at room temperature, (below 30°C) and must be used within 28 days or be discarded, even if they still contain Human Insulin.
Human Insulin is a man-made version of human insulin, produced by a biotechnology method called recombinant DNA technology.
Consume a fast-acting sugar source immediately, like a glass of fruit juice, regular soda, or sugar candy. Recheck your blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it remains low, take another portion of sugar. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if this happens regularly.
Most versions of Human Insulin can be kept at room temperature (below 30°C) for up to 28 days once opened. Keep it away from direct heat and light. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to confirm the exact storage limits for your specific product.
You should avoid or limit alcohol while using Human Insulin. Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to drop unexpectedly and can hide the warning symptoms of low blood sugar. Always talk to your doctor before consuming alcohol.
Maintaining tight blood sugar control is crucial during pregnancy, and Human Insulin is commonly used for this purpose. Your insulin requirements may change throughout your pregnancy, so you must talk to your doctor to manage your dose safely.
Mild irritation, redness, or itching can occur as your skin adjusts to the injections. This is usually temporary and resolves on its own. If the reaction is severe, spreads, or does not go away, talk to your doctor immediately.
Physical activity lowers blood sugar levels, so you may need to check your levels before, during, and after exercise. You might also need to eat a snack before working out. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to learn how to adjust your treatment plan safely.
No, do not use Human Insulin if it has been frozen, even if it has completely thawed. Freezing destroys the active protein in the medicine, making it ineffective. Safely discard the frozen product and start a new vial or pen.

