Before using insulin,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any type of insulin or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: albuterol (Proair, Proventil, Ventolin, others); alpha blockers such as doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin), tamsulosin (Flomax), and alfuzosin (Uroxatral); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril, (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik); angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) such as candesartan (Atacand), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), valsartan (Diovan), others; antidepressants; asparaginase (Elspar); atypical antipsychotics such as aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo, Versacloz), olanzapine (Zyprexa, in Symbyax), risperidone (Risperdal), others; beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace, Sorine), and timolol (Blocadren); clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay); danazol; diazoxide (Proglycem); disopyramide (Norpace); diuretics ('water pills');fibrates such as fenofibrate (Fenoglide, Tricor, Trilipix), fenofibric acid (Fibricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid); isoniazid (in Rifater, Rifamate); lithium; medications for asthma and colds; medications for mental illness or nausea; monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate); hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, injections, or implants); niacin (Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin); octreotide (Sandostatin);oral medications for diabetes such as pioglitazone (Actos, in Actoplus Met and others) and rosiglitazone (Avandia, in Avandamet and others); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); pentamidine (Nebupent); pentoxifylline (Pentoxil); pramlintide (Symlin); HIV protease inhibitors (PI) such as atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), darunavir (Prezista), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir; in Kaletra, Viekira Pak, others); quinine; quinidine; salicylate pain relievers such as aspirin; somatropin (Genotropin, Humatrope, Zomacton, others); sulfa antibiotics; terbutaline (Brethine); and thyroid medications. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had nerve damage caused by diabetes; heart failure; or heart, adrenal (a small gland near the kidneys), pituitary (a small gland in the brain), thyroid, liver, or kidney disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using human insulin, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using human insulin.
Alcohol may cause a decrease in blood sugar. Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are using human insulin.
ask your doctor what to do if you get sick, experience unusual stress, plan to travel across time zones, or change your exercise and activity level. These changes can affect your blood sugar and the amount of human insulin you may need.
ask your doctor how often you should check your blood sugar. Be aware that hypoglycemia may affect your ability to perform tasks such as driving and ask your doctor if you need to check your blood sugar before driving or operating machinery.