Before a long trip associated with the change of time zones, the patient should consult with his attending physician, as changing the time zone means that the patient must take food and inject insulin at another time.
Hyperglycaemia
Insufficient dose of the drug or discontinuation of treatment, especially in type 1 diabetes, can lead to the development of hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. Typically, the symptoms of hyperglycemia appear gradually, within a few hours or days. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, redness and dryness of the skin, dry mouth, increased urine output, thirst and loss of appetite, and the appearance of an odor of acetone in the exhaled air. Without proper treatment, hyperglycemia can lead to death.
Hypoglycaemia
Skipping meals, unplanned increased physical activity or too high a dose of insulin in relation to the patient's need may lead to hypoglycemia.
After compensating for carbohydrate metabolism, for example, with intensified insulin therapy, the symptoms typical for them, precursors of hypoglycemia, can change in patients, which patients should be informed about.
Common symptoms-precursors can disappear with prolonged course of diabetes.
A consequence of the pharmacodynamic characteristics of short-acting insulin analogs is that,that the development of hypoglycemia in their use can begin earlier than when using soluble human insulin.
Since NovoRapid® Penfill® should be used in direct connection with food intake, it should be taken into account the high rate of onset of the drug effect in the treatment of patients who have comorbid diseases or who take medications that slow food intake. Concomitant diseases, especially infectious and accompanied by fever, usually increase the body's need for insulin. Correction of the dose of the drug may also be required if the patient has concomitant diseases of the kidneys, liver, adrenal, pituitary or thyroid gland disorders.
When transferring the patient to other types of insulin, early symptoms-precursors of hypoglycemia may become less pronounced, compared with those with the previous type of insulin.
Transfer of a patient from other insulin preparations
Transfer of the patient to a new type of insulin or an insulin preparation of another manufacturer must be carried out under strict medical supervision.When changing the concentration, type, manufacturer and species (human insulin, animal insulin, human insulin analog) insulin preparations and / or manufacturing method, a dose change or an increase in injection frequency may be required compared to the previously used insulin preparations. If it is necessary to adjust the dose, it can be done already at the first administration of the drug or during the first weeks or months of treatment.
Reactions at the site of administration
As with other insulin preparations, reactions at the injection site may develop, which is manifested by pain, redness, hives, inflammation, bruising, swelling and itching. Regular injection site changes in the same anatomical area can reduce symptoms or prevent the development of reactions. In very rare cases, it may be necessary to cancel NovoRapid® Penfill®.
The simultaneous use of drugs of the thiazolidinedione group and insulin preparations
Cases of chronic heart failure in the treatment of patients with thiazolidinediones in combination with insulin preparations have been reported, especially if such patients have risk factors for developing chronic heart failure.This fact should be taken into account when appointing patients combination therapy with thiazolidinediones and insulin preparations. In the appointment of such combination therapy, it is necessary to conduct medical examinations of patients to identify signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure, increase in body weight and the presence of edema. If the symptoms of heart failure worsen in patients, treatment with thiazolidinediones should be discontinued.
Precautions for use
NovoRapid® Penfill® and needles are for personal use only. Do not refill the Penfill® cartridge. NovoRapid® Penfill® can not be use if it has ceased to be transparent and colorless, or if it has been frozen. Inform the patient of the need to discard the needle after each injection.
NovoRapid® can be used in insulin pumps (see "Method of administration and dose"). Pipes, the inner surface of which is made of polyethylene or polyolefin, have been checked and found suitable for use in pumps.
In emergency cases (hospitalization, failure of the insulin delivery device) NovoRapid® for administration to the patient can be removed from the cartridge using an insulin syringe U100.
Instructions for patients on the use of NovoRapid® Penfill®
Do not use NovoRapid® Penfill®:
- In case of allergy (hypersensitivity) to insulin aspart or any other component of NovoRapid®.
- If you have begins hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- If the cartridge or insulin delivery system with the cartridge installed is dropped, or the cartridge is damaged or crushed.
- If the storage conditions of the preparation have been violated or it was frozen.
- If insulin has ceased to be transparent and colorless.
Before using NovoRapid® Penfill®:
- Check the label to make sure, that the correct type of insulin is selected.
- Always check cartridge, including a rubber piston. Do not use the cartridge if it has visible damage, or if there is a gap between the piston and the white strip on the cartridge. For further instructions, refer to the instructions for using the insulin delivery system.
- Always use a new needle for each injection to prevent infection.
- NovoRapid® Penfill® and needles are for personal use only.
Mode of application
NovoRapid® is intended for subcutaneous injections or prolonged infusions in the insulin pump system (PPII). NovoRapid® can also be administered intravenously under the strict supervision of a physician. Never administer insulin intramuscularly.
Each time, change the injection site within the anatomical area. This will help reduce the risk of seals and ulcers at the injection site. It is best to inject the drug into the front abdominal wall, shoulder or front surface of the thigh. Insulin will act faster if it is injected into the anterior abdominal wall. Regularly measure the concentration of glucose in the blood.
How to make an injection
- Insulin should be injected under the skin. Use the injection technique recommended by your doctor or nurse, follow the instructions for administering insulin given in the manual for the insulin delivery device.
- Hold the needle under the skin not less than 6 seconds. Hold the start button down until the needle is removed from under the skin.This will ensure the introduction of a full dose of the drug and prevent the ingress of blood into the needle or cartridge with insulin.
- After each injection be sure to remove and discard the needle. Otherwise, it is possible to drain liquid from the cartridge, which can lead to an incorrect dosage of insulin.
Do not fill the cartridge with insulin again.
NovoRapid® Penfill® is designed for use with Novo Nordisk insulin injection systems and NovoFine® or NovoTvist® needles.
If Novorapid® Penfill® and other insulin are used simultaneously in the Penfill® cartridge, two separate injection systems for insulin administration, one for each type of insulin, should be used.
As a precaution, always carry a spare insulin delivery system in case you lose or damage your NovoRapid® Penfill®.