Insulin Degludec
Information about Insulin Degludec
Insulin degludec uses
Insulin Degludec is used in the treatment of diabetes.
How insulin degludec works
Insulin Degludec is a long-acting insulin that provides consistent, all-day sugar control. It works like your body's natural insulin. Insulin facilitates reuptake of sugar in muscle and fat cells and also suppresses the production of sugar in the liver.
Common side effects of insulin degludec
Severe hypoglycemia, Auto-antibody formation, Headache, Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages), Upper respiratory tract infection, Peripheral edema, Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis, Injection site reaction, Sinus inflammation, Hypersensitivity, Red spots or bumps, Lipodystrophy (skin thickening or pits at the injection site)
Available Medicine for Insulin Degludec
Expert advice for Insulin Degludec
- This medicine is injected under the skin. It needs to be injected once daily, at the same time every day.
- Injection below the skin of the abdomen results in faster absorption than other injection sites.
- Injection sites must be rotated to prevent hard lumps from developing at one site.
- Do not use if the preparation is no longer clear and colorless or if it contains particles.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) is a common side effect. Always carry some sugary food or fruit juice with you so that you can take it when you experience hypoglycemia symptoms such as cold sweats, cool pale skin, tremor and anxiety.
- Opened vials/cartridge stay good at room temperature for up to 4 weeks, while unopened vials must be placed in the refrigerator (2°C–8°C).
Frequently asked questions for Insulin Degludec
Insulin Degludec
Q. What is Insulin Degludec?
Insulin Degludec is an ultra long-acting type of insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children (as young as 1 year of age) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin Degludec works like the insulin that is normally produced by the body and helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy production. Also, it stops the liver from producing more sugar and this helps to normalize the blood sugar levels.
Q. How is Insulin Degludec administered?
Insulin Degludec is injected just below the skin (subcutaneously). Your doctor will train you on the correct method and the areas (abdomen or stomach, thighs, arms, hips or buttocks) where you should inject it. It is advised that the site of injection should be changed within the chosen area of skin, for every dose. For example, if you have been advised to inject it into the skin of your stomach, avoid puncturing the same point on your stomach every day. Rather, inject the needle at a site that is slightly away, say around 1cm, from the previous injection. You can also consider switching sides while injecting, like choosing the right side on one day and the left side on the next day. This way, you can reduce the complications associated with repeated injections in the same site such as thickening of the fat tissue below the skin known as lipodystrophy, irritation, pain etc. After one to two weeks, you should move to another area of your body (eg. from the stomach to the arms or thighs) as advised by your doctor. Consult your doctor if you face any problems while injecting Insulin Degludec.
Q. Is Insulin Degludec better than Insulin Detemir?
Both Insulin Degludec and insulin detemir are long-acting insulins with almost similar effectiveness and safety. The only difference is that Insulin Degludec has the longest duration of action (more than 40 hours) and this helps to maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout this duration. Some studies have reported that Insulin Degludec may have a slightly lesser risk of hypoglycemia.