INSULIN, SHORT-ACTING injectable

Therapeutic action

• Rapid-acting pancreatic antidiabetic hormone

Indications

• Diabetes
• Emergency treatment of hyperglycaemia (diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state)

Forms and strengths, route of administration

• Solution of 100  IU of insulin/ml in:
  • 3 ml pre-filled pen (300 IU/3 ml), for deep SC injection only (abdomen, thigh, buttock or arm)
  • 10 ml vial (1000  IU/10 ml), for deep SC injection or IV injection (administered with a syringe calibrated in insulin units) or for IV infusion

Dosage

Diabetes

• Child and adult: one SC injection 15 to 30 minutes before a meal, in combination with intermediate-acting insulin 
• Dosage must be individualised according to need. Adapt dose in the event of physical activity, change in diet or infection. 

Emergency treatment of hyperglycaemia

• Adult: initial dose of 0.1 IU/kg by IV injection then 0.1 IU/kg/hour by continuous IV infusion. Adapt the protocol to blood glucose levels. 

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• See "Insulin: general information".
• In the event of combination with intermediate-acting insulin, always prepare the mix in the syringe immediately before administration and in the following order: first draw the short-acting insulin then the intermediate-acting insulin. 

Remarks

• By IV route, insulin has a very short half-life of around 5 minutes and the effect disappears within 30 minutes of injection.

Storage

• Unopened vial: to be kept refrigerated (2 °C to 8 °C)
• Opened vial: max. 4 weeks at below 25 °C and protected from light.