Description
Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone made by the pancreas that helps our body use or store the glucose (sugar) it gets from food. For people with diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin to meet the body’s requirements or the body cannot properly use the insulin that is made. As a result, glucose cannot be used or stored properly and accumulates in the bloodstream.
Insulin injected subcutaneously (under the skin) helps to lower blood glucose levels. Insulin detemir is used to treat adults and children over 2 years of age with type 1 diabetes mellitus who require a long-acting insulin. It is also used alone and in combination with other medications, to treat adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who require a long-acting insulin. There are many different types of insulin and they are absorbed at different rates and work for varying periods of time. Insulin detemir is an extended, long-acting insulin. It begins to work a few hours after injection, and the effects last up to 24 hours. After injection, insulin detemir is released slowly and constantly into the bloodstream.
The recommended dose of insulin depends on how much natural insulin your pancreas is producing and how well your body is able to use the insulin. Your doctor or diabetes educator will determine the appropriate dose for you according to various lifestyle factors and the blood glucose values obtained while monitoring your blood glucose.
Your dose of insulin should be injected subcutaneously (under the skin) exactly as instructed by your doctor or diabetes educator. Do not inject insulin detemir into the vein and do not use insulin detemir in insulin infusion pumps. Each 1 mL of insulin contains 100 units. Insulin detemir is injected under the skin once or twice daily. In addition to insulin detemir, a fast-acting insulin is usually used to control the impact of food intake on blood glucose levels during the day. There are many variations of insulin dosing.
