Insulatard Dosage/Direction for Use

Insulatard is a long-acting insulin and may be used alone or in combination with fast or rapid-acting insulin products.
Dosage: Dosage is individual and determined in accordance with the needs of the patient. The individual insulin requirement is usually between 0.3 and 1.0 IU/kg/day. The daily insulin requirement may be higher in patients with insulin resistance (e.g. during puberty or due to obesity) and lower in patients with residual, endogenous insulin production.
Dosage adjustment: Concomitant illness, especially infections and feverish conditions, usually increases the patient's insulin requirement. Concomitant diseases in the kidney, liver or affecting the adrenal, pituitary or thyroid gland can require changes in the insulin dose. Adjustment of dosage may also be necessary if patients change physical activity or their usual diet. Dosage adjustment may be necessary when transferring patients from one insulin preparation to another.
Administration: For subcutaneous use. Insulin suspensions are never to be administered intravenously.
Insulatard is administered subcutaneously by injection in the thigh. If convenient, the abdominal wall, the gluteal region or the deltoid region may also be used. Injection sites should always be rotated within the same region in order to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy and cutaneous amyloidosis (Insulatard Penfill).
Subcutaneous injection into the thigh results in a slower and less variable absorption compared to the other injection sites. Injection into a lifted skin fold minimises the risk of unintended intramuscular injection. The needle should be kept under the skin for at least 6 seconds to make sure the entire dose is injected.
Insulatard Flexpen: Insulatard Flexpen is a pre-filled pen designed to be used with NovoFine or NovoTwist disposable needles up to a lenght of 8 mm. Flexpen delivers 1-60 units in increments of 1 unit.
Insulatard Flexpen is accompanied by a package leaflet with detailed instructions for use to be followed.
Insulatard Penfill: Insulatard Penfill is designed to be used with Novo Nordisk delivery systems and NovoFine or NovoTwist needles.
Resuspending the insulin: Resuspending is easier when the insulin has reached room temperature.
Before you put the Penfill cartridge into the insulin delivery system, move it up and down and back so that the glass ball moves from one end of the cartridge to the other at least 20 times. Repeat this movement at least 10 times before each injection. The movement must always be repeated until the liquid appears uniformly white and cloudy. Complete the other stages of injection without delay.
Check there are at least 12 units of insulin left in the cartridge to allow even resuspending. If there are less than 12 units left, use a new one.