Description
Description
Humulin 70/30 cartridges are for subcutaneous (under the skin) injection only. The 70/30 mix also available in vials.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to manage blood sugar levels. It works by decreasing sugar in our blood and urine by increasing the uptake of sugar from the blood into the various tissues such as our muscles, liver, and fat.
For those with diabetes, our body either does not produce enough insulin or not at all. This is why insulin injections are necessary to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range.
Humulin 70/30 is used to treat patients diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Humulin 70/30 combines both intermediate-acting (Humulin N) and short-acting insulin (Humulin R). It covers your insulin needs after meals, throughout the day, and during bedtime.
This insulin is produced using recombinant DNA processes. Due to its unique manufacturing process, Humulin differs from animal-source insulin but is structurally identical to that produced by the pancreas in our body.
Humulin 70/30 cartridges are not designed to allow any other insulin to be mixed in the cartridge.
Medication is administered through injection under the skin (subcutaneous) and duration can last between 16-18 hours.
Humulin 70/30 is a fixed mixture of:
30% Humulin R Regular (insulin injection, human biosynthetic)
70% Humulin N NPH (insulin isophane, human biosynthetic)
Ensure you are ordering the correct insulin, as Humulin and Humalog can be easily mistaken with one another.
Warnings and Precautions
Warnings and Precautions
Humulin 70/30 cartridges should not be used if you experience allergic reactions to insulin or any of its ingredients.
Do not use insulin during episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
It should never be used intravenously or as a treatment for diabetic coma.
Do not inject into a muscle or vein.
Do not use Humulin 70/30 cartridges if they look like clumps floating or if solid white particles are stuck to the bottom, giving it a frosted appearance.
If your cartridge is cracked, broken in any way, or looks frosted, return it to the place of purchase and ask for an exchange.
Test your blood sugar regularly, especially if you are experiencing nausea or vomiting, and share the results with your doctor.
Always keep an extra supply of insulin available.
Wear a bracelet or carry identification that lets others know you have diabetes.
Do not use any other insulin medication without guidance from your doctor.
Take precautions to avoid hypoglycemia while operating heavy machinery or driving.
Consult with your doctor on what to do if you miss an insulin dose. You should bring a glucose tablet, hard candy, or sugary drink in case you experience hypoglycemia.
Suppose you are running low on insulin and need a temporary reduction. Drink plenty of fluids and reduce food consumption to 2/3 portions. Consult your doctor to get guidance and refill your prescription.
Consult your doctor if you are traveling to another time zone, which can affect your insulin schedule.
Speak to your doctor if you are experiencing any unusual symptoms or have doubts about your condition.
Usage
Usage
Humulin 70/30 cartridges are designed to use with reusable pens.
Your doctor or nurse should show you how to administer your administration correctly.
Humulin 70/30 cartridges are designed so that other insulin cannot be mixed with the medication it contains. See the drug interactions tab for more information.
Humulin cartridges must not be refilled and should not be used in any way with a traditional syringe.
Needles, pens, and cartridges should not be shared with others, spreading infection or disease.
Your dosage should be determined by your doctor or according to your individual needs.
Insulin should be taken subcutaneously.
Side Effects
Side Effects
However rare, the side effects associated with Humulin can occur as with any insulin medication.
The most common side effect is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs of hypoglycemia include unconsciousness, disorientation, seizures, death, and diabetic Acidosis (DKA).
Diabetic Acidosis (DKA) may develop if your body has too little insulin. This can result from insulin rationing, taking less than your doctor prescribed, eating more than your diet suggests, or developing an infection or fever.
Symptoms of Diabetic Acidosis include flushed face, loss of appetite, thirst, and drowsiness.
More severe symptoms of DKA can include heavy breathing and increased heart rate.
Urine tests have shown that when people with diabetes experience acidosis, their urine contains a high amount of sugar and acetone.
If untreated, diabetic acidosis can lead to loss of consciousness, coma, or can be fatal.
If you believe you are experiencing DKA, seek medical attention immediately.
Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions
There may be interactions between Humulin 70/30 cartridges and other medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medication prescribed for you or bought without a prescription.
Insulin requirements may be increased if you are taking other drugs with hyperglycemic activity, such as oral contraceptives (for example, birth control pills, injections, and patches), thiazides (for high blood pressure or excessive fluid retention), corticosteroids, sympathomimetics (for example salbutamol used to treat asthma or pseudoephedrine for colds), danazol (medicine acting on ovulation), or thyroid replacement therapy. Insulin requirements may also be affected by diphenylhydantoin (used to treat epilepsy).
Insulin requirements may be decreased in the presence of agents such as oral medicines for the treatment of diabetes, salicylates (Aspirin*), sulfa antibiotics, certain antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), beta-blockers, alcohol, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers, and anabolic steroids.
Insulin requirements can be increased, decreased, or unchanged in patients receiving diuretics.
The use of thiazolidinediones (such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone), alone or in combination with other antidiabetic agents (including insulin), has been associated with heart failure and swelling of the lower extremities. Please get in touch with your physician immediately if you develop symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, exercise intolerance, or swelling of the lower extremities while you are on these agents.
The presence of such diseases as acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, and pheochromocytoma complicate the control of diabetes.
Ingredients
Ingredients
The medical ingredient in Humulin 70/30 cartridges contains 30% Humulin R and 70% Humulin N.
The nonmedicinal ingredients are glycerol, m-cresol, water for injection, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, phenol, zinc oxide, protamine sulfate, and dibasic sodium phosphate.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic Reactions
Patients occasionally experience redness, swelling, and itching at the site of injection of insulin. This condition, called local allergy, usually clears up in a few days to a few weeks. If you have local reactions, contact your doctor, who may recommend a change in the type or species of insulin.
Less common but potentially more severe is generalized allergy to insulin, which may cause a rash over the whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, reduction in blood pressure, fast pulse, or sweating. Severe cases of generalized allergy may be life-threatening. If you think you are having a generalized allergic reaction to insulin, notify a doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend skin testing, that is, injecting small doses of other insulins into the skin to select the best insulin for you to use. Patients who have had severe generalized allergic reactions to insulin should be skin tested with each new preparation to be used before treatment that practice is started.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Control of blood sugar is vital to ensure the birth of a healthy child. Normalization of the blood sugar should have occurred before conception and should continue throughout the pregnancy. Since pregnancy may make diabetes worse and the importance of reasonable diabetic control, patients who contemplate pregnancy or who are pregnant, should seek expert medical advice.
Diabetic patients who are nursing may require adjustments in insulin dose and diet.
Inspection
Inspection
Do not use a cartridge of Humulin 70/30 if, after resuspending, clumps are floating in the insulin or if solid white particles stick to the bottom or wall of the cartridge, giving it a frosted appearance. A cartridge that appears frosted or contains clumps, or is cracked or broken, should be returned to the place of purchase for an exchange.
If you notice anything unusual in the appearance or effect of your insulin, consult your healthcare professional.
Do not use it after the expiry date.
Storage
Storage
Do not freeze or store near the cooling element. Also, keep stored away from direct sunlight and heat. Cartridges should be discarded after 28 days, even if they contain insulin.
Insulin currently in use does not need to be refrigerated and be kept at room temperature below 25 C.
Unused Humulin 70/30 cartridges should be stored in the refrigerator between 2 to 8 C.
