INSULIN ADMINISTRATION

Preparation Brand Route† Administration Mixing of Insulins Comments

RAPID-ACTING
Insulin Aspart NovoLog  SC Give dose within SC: May mix with NPH insulin. Draw CSII: Change inj site at least
(Novo Nordisk) CSII 5–10mins before a NovoLog into syringe first. Inject every 48 hours.
IV meal. immediately after mixing. May dilute
with Insulin Diluting Medium for
NovoLog to 1:10 (U-10) or 1:2 (U-50)
concentrations.
CSII: Do not dilute or mix with other
insulins.
IV: Do not mix with other insulins.
Insulin Glulisine Apidra  SC Give dose within 15mins SC: May mix with NPH insulin. Draw Pump: Change inj site at least
(sanofi-aventis) Pump before a meal or Apidra into syringe first. Inject every 48 hours.
IV 20mins after starting a immediately after mixing.
meal. Pump: Do not dilute or mix with
other insulins.
IV: Do not mix with other insulins.
Insulin Lispro Humalog (Lilly)  SC Give dose within 15mins May mix with Humulin N. Draw
Pump before or immediately Humalog into syringe first. Inject
after a meal. immediately after mixing.
May dilute with STERILE DILUENT for
Humalog to 1:10 (U-10) or 1:2
(U-50) concentrations.
SHORT-ACTING
Insulin Injection Humulin R OTC SC Individualize. SC: May mix with longer-acting Use syringes marked with
Regular (R) U-100 human insulins. Draw clear insulin U-100.
(Lilly) into syringe first.
Novolin R SC Give dose ⱖ3 times
(Novo Nordisk) IV daily within 30mins
before a meal.
INTERMEDIATE-ACTING
Insulin Isophane Humulin N OTC SC Individualize. May mix with Humalog or Humulin R. Rotate vial to mix. Should look
Suspension (NPH) (Lilly) Draw clear insulin into syringe first uniformly cloudy. • Use syringes
then Humulin N. marked with U-100.
Novolin N May mix with other insulins. Draw Rotate vial to mix. Should look
(Novo Nordisk) clear insulin into syringe first then uniformly cloudy. • Use syringes
Novolin N. marked with U-100 or U-40.
• Inject rapidly over 2–4 secs
to avoid clogging needle tip.
SHORT- AND INTERMEDIATE-ACTING MIXTURES
Insulin Aspart NovoLog Mix  SC Give dose twice daily Do not mix with other insulins. Roll vial, prefilled syringe
Protamine/Insulin 70/30 within 15mins before a 10 times until uniformly cloudy.
Aspart (Novo Nordisk) meal.
Insulin Isophane Humulin 50/50 OTC SC Individualize. See product label. Rotate vial to mix. Should look
Suspension (NPH)/ (Lilly) uniformly cloudy. • Use syringes
Regular Insulin (R) marked with U-100.
Insulin Isophane Humulin 70/30 OTC SC See product label. Rotate vial to mix. Should look
Suspension (NPH)/ (Lilly) uniformly cloudy. • Use syringes
Regular Insulin (R) marked with U-100.
Novolin 70/30 Do not change the ratio by adding Rotate vial to mix. Should look
(Novo Nordisk) NPH or Regular insulin to the vial. uniformly cloudy. • Use syringes
Use separate insulin formulations marked with U-100 or U-40.
(Novolin N and Novolin R). • Inject rapidly over 2–4 secs
to avoid clogging needle tip.
Insulin Lispro Humalog Mix  SC Give dose within 15mins Do not mix with any other insulins. Rotate vial to mix. Should look
Protamine/Insulin 50/50 before a meal. uniformly cloudy.
Lispro (Lilly)
Humalog Mix
75/25
(Lilly)
LONG-ACTING
Insulin Detemir Levemir  SC Give dose once daily Do not dilute or mix with other Should look clear, colorless.
(Novo Nordisk) (PM) or twice daily insulins.
(12 hrs apart).
Insulin Glargine Lantus  SC Give dose once daily at Do not dilute or mix with other Should look clear, colorless.
(sanofi-aventis) the same time every day. insulins.
Insulin Injection Humulin R  SC Individualize. See product label. Caution with dosage. • Should
Regular (R) U-500 look water-clear. • Use tuberculin
(Lilly) or similar insulin syringe.
NOTES
† SC = subcutaneous, IV = Intravenous, IM = intramuscular, CSII = continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion
• Caution with changes in strength, manufacturer, preparation, species of insulin source.
• Rate of insulin absorption, onset and duration of action may be affected by the injection site, blood supply, temperature, exercise, and other variables.
For more information, see drug entry or visit www.eMPR.com (Rev. 5/2009)