Humulin R U-500 (regular insulin U-500)
My Insulin Guide
Fairview Pharmacy. Call 601-544-4871.
My dose before each mealYour pharmacist or doctor fills this in.
This insulin is concentrated
- Humulin R U-500 is 500 units/mL, five times as strong as U-100.
- Only the dedicated U-500 KwikPen or a U-500 syringe. Never a U-100 or tuberculin syringe.
- Never convert. Never transfer from the pen to a syringe.
- Keep it separated from other insulin. Tell every caregiver it is concentrated.
Taking it right
- Two or three times daily, about 30 minutes before meals.
- New needle and 5 unit prime every time.
- After zero, keep the needle in place and count to 5.
- Never share the pen, even with a new needle.
If I miss a dose
- Check my glucose and call the diabetes team.
- No safe generic catch up rule for this insulin.
- Never double. Never use a U-100 conversion.
Low blood sugar
- Signs: shaking, sweating, hunger, fast heartbeat, confusion.
- Awake and able to swallow: 15 grams fast carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes.
- Cannot swallow or passed out: glucagon, side position, call 911.
Call the doctor or pharmacist if
- Repeated lows I cannot explain.
- Highs that stay up despite my correction plan.
- Any wrong insulin, wrong concentration, or wrong dose error, even if I feel fine.
- After a possible error, keep the pen or vial and syringe handy for the call.
Storage
- Unopened: refrigerate. Do not freeze.
- Vial in use: discard after 40 days. Pen in use: discard after 28 days.
- Never leave it in the car.