If you are taking regular insulin or long-acting insulin, you should usually take it 15 to 30 minutes before a meal. If you are taking insulin lispro (brand name: Humalog), which works very quickly, you should usually take it within 15 minutes after eating.
What happens if you inject insulin after eating?
Aside from glucose, other foods take more than an hour to enter the bloodstream. So what is the advantage of taking insulin before meals, rather some time, it can lead to severe hypoglycemia if the patient misses a meal after the insulin dose. High blood sugar has no immediate ill effects, but low blood sugar can cause instant death.
When is the best time to inject insulin?
Insulin injections work best when you take them, so the insulin works when the glucose from your food enters your bloodstream. For example, regular insulin works best if you take it 30 minutes before a meal.
Can insulin be administered after a meal?
Do not wait more than 15 minutes to eat after taking insulin with meals. Fast-acting (meal) insulins are designed to be taken just before meals to help you control your blood sugar more effectively. As the name suggests, fast-acting insulin begins to work quickly in the blood.
Can I take insulin on an empty stomach?
Take insulin but don’t eat: Fast-acting and short-acting insulin injections should be taken just before or during meals. Your blood sugar rises after meals. Taking fast-acting or short-acting insulin without food can cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels. Inject insulin into an arm or leg just before exercising.