Short-Acting Insulin for Type 1 Diabetes

Overview
Short-acting insulin, also called regular insulin, is used for managing glucose (blood sugar) levels in people with type 1 diabetes. Types of short-acting insulin approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include insulin human injection (Humulin R), insulin human in sodium chloride injection (Myxredlin), and regular, human insulin (Novolin R). These types of insulin are produced using recombinant DNA technology.

Short-acting insulin works by rapidly decreasing blood sugar levels. It’s typically given about 30 to 60 minutes before a meal to manage the rise in blood sugar that occurs after eating. It generally starts to work in half an hour and stays active for three to six hours.

How do I take it?
Short-acting insulin is usually given as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin). It’s important to follow your health care provider’s guidance on dose and timing.

Side effects
Common side effects of short-acting insulin may include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), injection site reactions, allergic reactions, itching, rash, weight gain, swelling, and changes in fat tissue at the injection site.

Rare but serious side effects may include low potassium levels, severe hypoglycemia, kidney problems, and anaphylaxis (whole-body allergic reaction).

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Regular Insulin Injection — Cleveland Clinic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/234...

Types of Insulin — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type-1-type...