ONCE DAILY
INTERMEDIATE ACTING
INSULIN
Information Leaflet
Your Health. Our Priority.
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Diabetes | Kingsgate House and Stepping Hill Hospital
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What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone which transports glucose from the blood stream into the cells of the body
where it can be used for energy. You have been prescribed INTERMEDIATE ACTING
INSULIN. Intermediate acting insulin is usually taken once daily but may sometimes be taken
twice daily.
Action of intermediate acting insulin:
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Onset - 1 1/2 hours
Peak effect - 4-12 hours
Duration of action - up to18 hours
Action
Time
Intermediate acting insulins and devices:
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Timing of injection: Usually once daily at the same time of day (as advised by your
diabetes care provider). May sometimes be taken twice daily (if advised by your diabetes
care provider)
Pen / cartridge colour: Green
Colour of insulin: Cloudy (needs to be mixed before injecting)
Product
Humulin I
Insulatard
Insuman Basal
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Device
Kwik pen (disposable)
Humapen Savio (cartridges)
InnoLet (disposable)
Novopen 4 (cartridges)
Solo STAR (disposable)
Click STAR (cartridges)
Diabetes | Kingsgate House and Stepping Hill Hospital
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Insulin Dose Adjustment
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Monitor blood glucose levels at least twice daily before meals (varying the time)
After 3 days review the trend of your blood glucose levels.
If your blood glucose levels are generally above your target (as advised by your diabetes
care provider) and not below 5mmol/l, increase your insulin dose by 2 units.
Repeat the above every 3 days until your blood glucose levels are generally within your
target range.
If your blood glucose levels remain very high e.g., above 20mmols/l you can increase insulin by
4units every 3 days until blood glucose levels fall to around 15mmols/l. At this stage revert to
adjusting the dose by 2 units at a time
If you experience more than two episodes of hypoglycaemia a week you may need to reduce
some or all of your insulin doses. Please contact your diabetes care provider for advice.
Please maintain contact with your diabetes care provider if your blood glucose levels remain
elevated despite increasing your insulin dose.
Do not exceed 30-40 units in a single dose without advice.
Contact Details
Diabetes Specialist Nurses
1st Floor
Kingsgate House
Wellington Road North
Stockport
SK4 1LW
Tel: 0161 426 5408
E-mail: snt-tr.diabetesteam@nhs.net
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Diabetes | Kingsgate House and Stepping Hill Hospital
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If you would like this leaflet in a different format, for example, in large print, or on
audiotape, or for people with learning disabilities, please contact:
Patient and Customer Services, Poplar Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital. Tel: 0161 419 5678.
Email: PCS@stockport.nhs.uk.
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Leaflet number
Publication date
Review date
Department
Location
www.stockport.nhs.uk
MED145
August 2015
August 2017
Diabetes
Kingsgate House and Stepping Hill Hospital
Diabetes | Kingsgate House and Stepping Hill Hospital