A Guide to Starting Humulin M3 - LillyPro

human insulin (prb)
30% soluble insulin 70% isophane insulin
A Guide to Starting
Humulin M3
This booklet is intended only for those who have been
Prescribed Humulin M3. It is intended to be used in addition to
the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) which is included in your
medicine and should also be read.

Contents
• What should I have from the pharmacist
• Why have I been given this booklet
• What is Humulin M3 and how does it work
• When do I take Humulin M3
• Who decides how much Humulin M3 I need
• When do I check my blood glucose levels
• Instruction for self adjustment of my insulin
• How do I inject my Humulin M3
• What if I forget an injection
• What is a hypo and why does it happen
• How do I deal with hypos
• What should I do if I feel unwell

What should I have from the pharmacist
Cartridge
KwikPen
Vial
You have been prescibed an insulin called Humulin M3.
Ensure that your medicine has Humulin M3 on the
packaging, as shown above
Your insulin should be - please tick
• 3ml Humulin M3 cartridge for use in a
reusable pen device e.g the HumaPen Savvio
• 3ml Humulin M3 KwikPen (prefilled)
• 10ml Humulin M3 vial (for use with a syringe)
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Why have I been given this booklet
You have been prescribed Humulin M3 (your insulin),
to help you manage your diabetes.
The aim of this booklet is to allow you to learn more
about your insulin and help you make the right
decisions about adjusting your insulin, and taking
control of your diabetes.
It is intended to be used in addition to the Patient
Information Leaflet provided with your medicine.

What is Humulin M3 & how does it work
Humulin M3 is made from a combination of two types
of insulin:
• 30% Soluble Insulin (short acting)
• 70% Isophane Insulin (intermediate acting)
Putting together a short acting insulin and an
intermediate acting insulin produces a quick rise
in insulin activity after injection, which gradually
subsides over time.
This is how the Humulin M3 works over a 24 hour period.
24 hour action profile
Breakfast
Injection
Lunch
Evening
Injection
approx 30 min
before breakfast
approx 30 mins
before meal
Theoretical representation of Humulin M3 insulin activity profile
twice per day
Expected insulin production during the day in people without diabetes
Time of injection - approx 30 minutes before meal

When do I take Humulin M3
This insulin should usually be taken about 30 minutes
before breakfast and about 30 minutes before your
evening meal.
You may be advised to take it more or less frequently;
this will be decided between you and your healthcare
professional.
How much will I need
Please complete:
approx. 30 mins
before breakfast
approx. 30 mins
before evening
meal
Dose
This is your starting dose and may increase.
Your dose may need to change based on your blood
glucose readings.

Who decides how much
Humulin M3 I will need
Your insulin dose will be adjusted by yourself and/or
your healthcare professional according to the blood
glucose tests you do.
Do not worry if it takes a while before you reach
your target blood glucose levels and you need more
insulin. Each person is different and what is important
is that it is the right amount for you.
Why do I need to test my blood glucose levels
It is important that you are aware of your own blood
glucose levels in order for you to take the appropriate
action, for example, adjusting your insulin dose.
There are a number of reasons why you may need to
adjust your insulin dose, including:
• High blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia)
• Low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia)
• Stress/illness

When do I check my
blood glucose levels
To test the effect of your insulin, the recommended
blood glucose tests are pre-meals and pre-bed.
Your healthcare professional will discuss with you
how often to test.
What should your blood glucose levels be
Please complete:
Your pre-breakfast
............... mmol/L
Your pre-lunch
Your pre-evening meal
Your pre-bed
............... mmol/L
............... mmol/L
............... mmol/L
It may take a while to achieve these levels and you
may require an increase of your insulin.
Do I need to adjust my insulin and how do I do it
You might not need to adjust your insulin. If you
do need to adjust your insulin your healthcare
professional will talk you through the next few steps.
You may feel apprehensive at first, but it is important
that you take control to make it work for you.

Instruction for self-adjustment
of my insulin
When testing your blood glucose, if you have
consistently high readings for more than three days
at any testing point, then you will need to adjust
your insulin.
Your healthcare professional will explain to you how
to adjust your insulin and will complete the following
table for you needs.
Humulin
M3 twice
daily
Before
Breakfast
Before Lunch
Before
Evening
Meal
Before Bed
Above Below Above Below Above Below Above Below
Adjust
dose
Adjust Evening
dose
Adjust Morning dose
Adjust Evening
dose
Dose reduction is recommended if any results are
consistently less than 4 mmol/L at any time.

How do I inject my Humulin M3
Your healthcare professional will explain how to
inject your insulin. Injection is usually via approved
pen devices or insulin syringe.
Where do I inject
Your insulin can be injected in the places shown
below. The site of the injection should be rotated
within the chosen area to prevent complications
developing at your injection site and aid absorption.
Check with your healthcare professional for suitability
of injection sites.

Preparing your injection
It is important that before you inject your insulin you
rotate it between the palms of the hands ten times and
invert it through 180° ten times immediately before use.
This is to ensure the insulin is mixed properly. It should
appear uniformly cloudy or milky.
The image above is a KwikPen, if you have been
prescribed Humulin M3 in a cartridge you should load
the cartridge into the pen device and then mix similarly
to that shown above.

What if I forget an injection
Forgetting your insulin is rarely an emergency
situation. Seek advice from your diabetes team.
The advice will vary depending on when you have
realised you have forgotten to take your insulin
What if I cannot remember if I had my insulin
If you are in any doubt, do not take again. In both
cases your blood glucose may run a little higher after
the injection you have forgotten. Do not worry.
It is very important that you
know the name of your Pen device,
your insulin and the name
of your blood glucose meter
My insulin is:
My pen is:
My blood glucose meter is:

What is a hypo and why does it happen
A blood glucose reading of 4 mmol/L and under is
hypoglyceamia (a hypo). A hypo occurs when blood
glucose falls too low. People feel different things
when a hypo is starting, you may also find some of
your hypos feel different from others.
A hypo can happen for a number of reasons;
• If you’ve missed a meal or had one later than usual
• If you’ve not had enough food or eaten less food
than normal
• If you’ve had more insulin than necessary
• If you’ve been more active than usual
• If you’ve been drinking alcohol
• If you’ve experienced extremes in temperature,
either hot or cold
If your diabetes is well controlled occasional hypos
are a normal part of life for people with diabetes, but
they shouldn’t take over your life. If you are having
frequent hypos, speak with your diabetes team.

Hypos begin quickly, but there are usually warning
signs. Symptoms can vary from person to person,
but may include the following:
• Sweating
• Thumping heart
• Looking pale
• Weakness or tiredness
• Pins and needles sensation
• Dizziness/ feeling tipsy, drunk
• Disturbed vision
• Mild confusion
• Slurred speech
• Hunger
• Aggression or altered behaviour
• Headache
If hypoglycaemia isn’t corrected it can lead to more
serious conditions such as loss of consciousness.

How do I deal with hypos
If you experience a hypo, you should deal with it by
taking 15-20g of quick acting carbohydrate such as:
• 5 - 7 Dextrosol ® tablets or,
• 90-120 ml of original Lucozade ® or,
• 100-200 ml of pure fruit juice such as orange juice
Your healthcare professional may also advise you of
quick acting carbohydrate such as:
It is advisable to re-check your blood glucose level to
ensure your blood glucose levels are rising.

If you are not about to eat a meal, ensure you eat
10-20 grams of slow acting carbohydrate, to maintain
your blood glucose levels until you next eat.
This can be:
• half a sandwich
• fruit
• a small bowl of cereal
• biscuits and milk
Your healthcare professional may also advise you of
slow acting carbohydrate such as:
The exact quantity will vary from person to person
Remember to carry your identity card and glucose
tablets with you in case of an emergency.
If you have regular hypos consider adjusting your
insulin and/or contacting your nurse or doctor.

What should I do if I feel unwell
A number of common illnesses can cause your blood
glucose to rise. When you are unwell you may not
want to eat or take your insulin treatment as normal,
but it is important to follow these basic rules:
1. Keep on taking your insulin
However ill you feel and however little food you are
eating, you may still need insulin. Sometimes in these
circumstances you need more than your usual dose.
Ask your healthcare professional for specific advice
on what action to take when you are ill.
2. Monitor your blood glucose
Monitor your blood glucose. Test at least 4 times
daily as your blood glucose levels will indicate
whether you require extra insulin doses.
3. Take carbohydrates in liquid form
Take unsweetened fluids if your blood glucose is
high. If you still do not feel like eating as your blood
glucose returns to normal then substitute food with
sweetened fruit juices or drinks that contain glucose.

Notes Page

Notes Page

Side effects should be reported.
This includes any possible side effects not listed in
the package leaflet. If you experience side effects talk
to your doctor or other healthcare professional.
Any side effects from your medication can be reported at
www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
Side effects and product complaints can also be
reported to Lilly: please call Lilly UK on 01256 315 000.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more
information on the safety of medicines.
Eli Lilly & Company Ltd
Priestley Road
Basingstoke
RG24 9NL
01256 315 000
www.lillydiabetes.co.uk/patients
This booklet has been developed with the Diabetes Specialist Nurses in Sheffield and
Mid-Yorks NHS Trust and funded by Lilly as a service to patient care.
The booklet has been reviewed for medical accuracy and printed by Lilly.
UKHML00057c(1) March 2014