For those who do not know, insulin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps maintain the levels of glucose in the blood by initiating its utilization or storage, as per the body’s requirements. When there are higher concentrations of glucose in the blood, insulin signals the liver, fat cells, and muscles to take in glucose. If, at that time, the body is low on energy, the body starts metabolizing the glucose to release energy. But, if the body has sufficient energy, the liver converts glucose into glycogen and stores it for future use.

In people suffering from diabetes, either the pancreas stop producing insulin because of the initiation of autoimmune response within the body (Type 1 diabetes) or the body becomes less sensitive or resistant to insulin and loses its ability to respond to the hormone (Type 2 diabetes).

Humalog – The Man-Made Insulin

Humalog is a manufactured replacement insulin that performs the same function in the body as the natural hormone. However, it acts faster and lasts for a short amount of time as compared to regular insulin. The effects start appearing about 30 minutes after administration and lasts for about 5 hours.

Sold as prescription medicine, Humalog is prescribed to help manage diabetes to both adults and children and works by stimulating the process of glucose absorption by cells, so it can be metabolized and used for energy.

Available Dosage Forms and Strengths of Humalog

Humalog is available in 100 units/ml (U-100) and 200 units/ml (U-200) strengths and in the following varieties:

Humalog 100 units/ml:

• 100 ml vials
• 3 ml vials
• 3 ml cartridges
• 3 ml Humalog KiwiPen (prefilled)
• 3 ml Humalog Junior KiwiPen (prefilled)

Humalog 200 units/ml:

• 3 ml Humalog KiwiPen (prefilled)

Dosage

The right dosage of Humalog for a person depends on a variety of factors and hence, varies across patients. Some of the factors that play a key role in determining the right dosage are:

• The metabolic needs of the individual
• Route of administration
• Blood glucose monitoring results
• Glycemic control goal

The patient needs to be regularly monitored while taking insulin lispro and the dosage may need to be adjusted if there are changes in:

• Meal patterns. This includes both the timings of food consumption as well as the nutrient content of the food.
• Physical activity
• Hepatic or renal function
• Changes in overall health

Humalog dosage may also need to be adjusted if:

• The patient is suffering from an acute illness.
• It is administered along with certain other drugs.

What Should You Do In Case Of an Overdose?

Taking an excessive amount of insulin can cause hypoglycemia i.e. low blood sugar. In some cases, it may also cause hypokalemia i.e. low blood potassium.

While mild cases of hypoglycemia can be easily treated by oral administration of glucose, a drastic drop in the blood glucose level needs to be treated by intravenous administration of concentrated glucose or intramuscular glucagon.

In rare cases, severe episodes of hypoglycemia may cause neurologic impairment, coma, or seizures.

In case you mistakenly take an overdose of Humalog, continue to monitor your blood sugar levels and immediately drink fruit juice or any other sugary drink if there is a drop in glucose level. Continue to monitor and consume carbohydrate for some time, even after you have apparently recovered because hypoglycemia may recur after some time as the medicine continues to function inside your body.

Seek medical help if the glucose level doesn’t become normal by oral consumption of sugary drinks.

Administration of Humalog

The manufactured insulin can be administered by injection or by an insulin pump.

Taking Humalog via Injection

While there are two ways to administer Humalog via injection i.e. subcutaneous injection and intravenous injection, the latter method is only used by doctors, as and when needed. When a patient is prescribed to take Humalog via injection, it is always through the first method.

Subcutaneous Injection

Humalog needs to be administered about 15 minutes before a meal or immediately after it into the subcutaneous tissues of upper arms, thighs, abdominal wall, or buttocks.

When administered this way, the fast-acting insulin is generally taken along with intermediate or long-acting insulin.

Both dosage strengths of Humalog i.e. U-100 and U-200 can be taken via subcutaneous injections.

Note: It is recommended to change the injection site, within the same area, every time you administer Humalog. This is to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy – a disorder of adipose tissues that causes selective loss of body fat.

Taking Humalog via Insulin Pump

Using insulin pump is also a method for subcutaneous infusion of Humalog, but it provides a continuous supply of insulin in small doses as opposed to the quick infusion in slightly higher dosage via injection.

If you are prescribed to administer insulin lisprovia an insulin pump, remember that you should only use Humalog U-100 – Humalog U-200 should not be used via an infusion pump.

Consult your doctor to determine the right infusion rate, both at meal times and otherwise and stick to the recommendations to avoid the chances of overdose.

Note

Make sure to follow the following instructions when you are using Humalog through an insulin pump:

• Change the infusion set and the insertion site after every 3 days.
• Change the insulin in the pump reservoir at least after every 7 days.
• Do not dilute or mix Humalog with any other type of insulin
• Make sure to not expose the insulin in the pump reservoir to temperatures higher than 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Centigrade).

Important Instructions

Here are some of the things that you should know and follow while using the manufactured insulin:

• Never share your Humalog pen, cartridge, or syringe with anyone, even after changing the needle.
• Store unopened Humalog in the refrigerator – do not freeze.
• Do not use the insulin if it has been frozen
• Humalog doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator while in use. However, make sure to store it at temperatures below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Centigrade) and use within 28 days of opening.
• Discard the opened Humalog after 28 days, even if you have not used it completely.
• Protect the manufactured insulin from direct light and heat.

How Long Does Humalog remain in the Patient’s Body?

As mentioned earlier, the effects of Humalog starts appearing after half an hour and last for about 5 hours.

Possible Side Effects of Humalog

While manufactured insulins are generally safe to use, they may cause some side effects in some cases. This section highlights the effects that you may experience with Humalog.

Common Side Effects

The most common effects that people experience, often due to overdose, are:

• Hypoglycemia; low blood sugar
• Hypokalemia; low blood potassium

However, patients may also experience itching, swelling, and/or redness at the site of injection. While these local allergy reactions usually disappear with a few days (they may take a few weeks in some patients), the patient may need to discontinue the use of Humalog in some cases.

Negative Effects of Humalog Observed In Clinical Trial

Humalog has shown a range of side effects during clinical trials. While the frequency of their occurrence was low, one should be always vigilant and consult a doctor if any of the effects last for a long time.

Adverse Effects of Humalog in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

• Bronchitis
• Nausea
• Cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Flu syndrome
• Rhinitis
• Pharyngitis
• Different types of infections, such as urinary tract infection
• Myalgia
• Dysmenorrhea
• Asthenia

Adverse Effects of Humalog in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

• Flu syndrome
• Rhinitis
• Pharyngitis

Long-Term Effects of Humalog

The long-term usage of Humalog may cause:

• Lipodystrophy, particularly in case of repeated infusions or injections at the same site
• Sodium retention and peripheral edema, particularly in cases where intense insulin therapy is undertaken to improve poor metabolic control
• Weight gain
• Long-term administration of insulin may cause severe, generalized allergies in some patients that could be life-threatening. Generalized insulin allergy may cause body rash, wheezing, anaphylaxis, tachycardia, wheezing, dyspnea, hypotension, or diaphoresis.

Possible Drug Interactions of Humalog

Just like most other medications, Humalog can interact with some drugs and cause negative effects.

The use of Humalog with the following drugs may put the patients at an increased risk of hypoglycemia:

• Antidiabetic agents
• ACE inhibitors
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Salicylates
• Sulfonamide antibiotics
• Fluoxetine
• Pramlintide
• Disopyramide
• Fibrates
• Pentoxifylline
• Propoxyphene
• Angiotensin II receptor blocking agents
• Somatostatin analogs, for example, octreotide.

Following drugs can reduce the effectiveness of Humalog in lowering blood glucose levels:

• Corticosteroids
• Isoniazid
• Niacin
• Estrogens
• Oral contraceptives
• Phenothiazines
• Danazol
• Diuretics
• Sympathomimetic agents, such as epinephrine, albuterol, and terbutaline
• Somatropin
• Atypical antipsychotics
• Glucagon
• Protease inhibitors
• Thyroid hormones

Lithium salts, clonidine, beta-blockers, and alcohol can also increase or decrease the effectiveness of Humalog in reducing blood glucose levels.

Tell Your Doctor If You Are…

• Pregnant or planning to get pregnant
• Suffering from renal or hepatic impairments
• Nursing mother. While it is not known that whether insulin lispro passes into breast milk or not, caution should be exercised while administering Humalog to nursing mothers.

Who Should Not Take Humalog?

Although Humalog is considered safe for use in both adults and children, its effects have not been studied in children under 3 years of age. So, it should not be used for toddlers unless prescribed by a registered physician or diabetic consultant.

Prescription Assistance for Humalog

The Lilly Cares Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers patient assistance program to help qualifying patients get prescribed medicines at no cost. The foundation has recently launched a new program to make diabetes medicines more accessible to patients who are not insured or underinsured and cannot afford to buy them either.

If you have not already been registered with a prescription assistance program, call 1-833-808-1234 to get in touch with the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center or visit the RX Assist website to check your eligibility for Lilly Care programs

You can also check out the list of programs that offer prescription assistance to diabetic patients at the American Diabetes Association’s website.

Victoza^® works in 3 ways like the hormone GLP-1 (7-37)^a to help control blood sugar levels

1. Victoza^® slows food leaving your stomach. GLP-1 is normally released from your small intestine when you eat. This slows down the process of food leaving your stomach, which helps control your blood sugar after meals.
2. Victoza^® helps prevent your liver from making too much sugar.
3. Victoza^® helps the pancreas produce more insulin when your blood sugar levels are high. Victoza^® does this by helping important cells work the way they should. These cells are called beta cells and they help control blood sugar by making and releasing insulin.

^aGLP-1 (7-37) represents <20% of the total circulating GLP-1 produced by your body.

Victoza^® is not insulin Texas

Victoza^® is not insulin. But it can be taken with long-acting insulin. When using Victoza^® with insulin, take them as separate injections. You may give both injections in the same body area (for example, your stomach area), but you should not give the injections right next to each other. Never mix insulin and Victoza^® together.

Victoza^® may also be taken alone or in combination with one or more common oral type 2 diabetes medications. These include biguanides (such as metformin), sulfonylureas (SUs), and thiazolidinediones (TZDs).

While not a weight-loss product, Victoza^® may help you lose some weight

In clinical studies ranging from 26 to 52 weeks in length, many people lost some weight. In a large study, when Victoza^® was added to metformin, people lost on average up to 6.2 pounds. While many people in clinical trials lost weight, some did gain weight. The American Diabetes Association recommends weight loss as an important goal for overweight people with type 2 diabetes.

The problem is, insulin prices have been seeing a steady spike – increases that may mean that some people’s diabetes-related expenses cost as much as their mortgage payment.

The unreasonably high costs made it even more difficult for individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or who live with limited resources to access medications that can save their life. It has also led some people or to turn to crowdfunding or Facebook pages and even the black market to gain access to the much-needed drug.

When Insurance Doesn’t Cut It

For some, it’s not the lack of insurance that’s the problem; it’s the type of plan in which they were enrolled.

High-deductible health plans, for instance, are becoming more common. In this type of plan, an individual or family has to spend a certain amount before the insurance company pays a penny for necessary medications. For some families, his amount could mean several thousand dollars.

Where only 4% of working individuals had a high-deductible health plan in 2006, the number went up to 25% a decade later. To make matters worse, the amount that people are paying for deductibles are also rising. According to a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, deductibles had gone up by 63% in the past half a decade, 10 times more than the inflation rate.

The Onerous of Patients with Diabetes

An article by the Huffington Post provided a sneak peek into the life of low- income individuals living with diabetes. It told the story of Jose Sanchez who, shortly after graduating from college, had fallen into diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a life-threatening complication that occurs mainly in patients with Type 1 diabetes, where the body is unable to produce enough insulin. Instead, it goes into overdrive in producing blood acids called ketones.

As Sanchez had insufficient income at the time, he qualified for New York State’s Medicaid program. By changing his lifestyle and diet and receiving insulin and other health care through Medicaid, he was able to stay relatively healthy.

Eventually, Sanchez found a stable job and had a son. However, he learned that working nights at Abercrombie & Fitch paid just a little too much, which disqualifies him for Medicaid. Without insurance, he shelled out $225 every three weeks, and that was for his insulin refills alone. As food, milk, and diapers for his son were the priority, he rationed his medication, which often sent him to the emergency room. His medical bills amounted to tens of thousands of dollars, which was impossible to pay with his salary.

No person should ever have to choose between life-saving medications and paying for their home, food, and other essential bills. For under insured, uninsured, or low-income patients with diabetes, home comes with institutions such as The Rx Solution. We provide Victoza patient assistance for low-income individuals living with type 2 diabetes. Our services are centered on helping you get your much-needed prescription refill at a very minimal cost or none at all.

Learn more about how you can qualify for our Victoza medication assistance. Call us at (888)-823-0042 today or fill out our form and we’ll reach out to you the soonest time possible.

Palm Beach County, Florida

[ninja_form id=9]

If you have this chronic disease, you’re looking at a lifetime spending of around $55,000 to $130,000, depending on the severity of the condition and how old you were when diagnosed. This estimate covers treatments, supplies (ex: blood glucose test strips, syringes), and physician visits.

It’s likely that your physician has strongly recommended that you make some major lifestyle changes, too. A recent study, after all, has proven that intensive lifestyle management plus standard diabetes treatment can reduce blood sugar levels to a non-diabetic range.

With the right connections and information, you can handle the financial and lifestyle aspects of your treatment with ease.

Prescription Assistance: A Means to Affordable Treatment

If the financial implications of having Type 2 Diabetes worry you the most, we offer a solution: Applying for prescription assistance to get prescription medicine at more affordable rates. Sometimes, qualifying patients even get free medicines from pharmaceutical companies, health providers, and advocacy organizations.

Prescription assistance programs are helpful if you don’t have prescription insurance or if your policy has limited coverage. These are services that require a fee, but the savings you get from the discounted medicine is significant enough to make treatment expenses manageable.

Here at The Rx Solution, we offer a patient assistance program for Victoza — a popular, non-insulin prescription medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Victoza: A Triple-Action Treatment

Victoza (liraglutide) regulates blood sugar by targeting processes in the stomach, liver, and pancreas. It is a GLP-1 analog, which means it adopts the GLP-1 incretin’s primary function of slowing glucose absorption.

When food enters the small intestine fast, the latter absorbs carbohydrates just as quickly and sends blood glucose levels through the roof. Victoza corrects this by slowing the food exiting from the stomach. It also slows down glycogenolysis in the liver while triggering the pancreas to produce more insulin.

Like most drugs, however, Victoza can have unpleasant side-effects. It’s important to discuss them with your physician before buying the medicine or applying for The Rx Solution’s prescription assistance program.

Lifestyle as a Medicine

Qualifying for our prescription program covers only half of your concerns. To achieve significant health improvement and enjoy the full benefits of Victoza, you also need to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

The National Diabetes Education Initiative (NDEI) recommends adults with diabetes perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities per week. Examples of these exercises are brisk-walking and dancing. Housework, gardening, and playing with children and pets also qualify as moderate-intensity physical activities. You can spread them out over three days, and the gap days should only be two consecutive days.

Maintaining a healthy diet consisting mainly of fresh fruit and non-starchy vegetables is also important. Dairy products and meats are not off-limits, but it’s best to eat them in small portions. Finally, avoid processed and high-carbohydrate food like fast food fare, tinned food, white bread, and microwaveable meals.

Type 2 Diabetes has no known cure, but you can control its symptoms and effects on your body. By practicing lifestyle changes and faithfully taking prescriptions, you can keep enjoying life to the fullest.

As you work on developing a healthier lifestyle, don’t forget to apply for our prescription program assistance. By easing your financial burden and giving you access to Victoza, The Rx Solution can help you manage your illness.

Contact us to get started.

What is Victoza?

Victoza (liraglutide) is an injectable medicine prescribed to adults with type 2 Diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. Victoza may also, along with your current treatment for cardiovascular disease, reduce the risk of major cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks or stroke.

Victoza is not a substitute for insulin and cannot be used by people with type 1 diabetes or those with diabetic ketoacidosis. It is unknown if Victoza can be used with mealtime insulin or if it is safe and effective for children.

How does Victoza Work?

Victoza works by producing GLP-1 hormones that work in 3 ways:

• It slows down the process of food leaving the stomach. During meals, GLP-1 is typically released from the small intestine. It slows down this process and helps level out your blood sugar.
• Victoza helps the liver from overproducing sugar.
• Victoza helps the pancreas produce more insulin when your blood sugar levels are high. Victoza can help the pancreas by activating beta cells—these are that help control blood sugar by producing insulin.

What are the potential side effects of Victoza?

It is important to note that Victoza may cause serious side effects including possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. If you feel a lump in your throat, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing, tell your healthcare provider.

Victoza may also cause the following side effects:

• Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Kidney problems
• Serious allergic reactions
• Gallbladder problems

Please do not use Victoza if you or your family have ever had Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) or if you have the endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Help with the Cost of Victoza

Help with your prescription medicine can come in many forms. Not a lot of people know that pharmaceutical companies have Patient Assistance Programs. These are programs designed to help low-income people and those with limited insurance coverage. The programs allow people to get the medicine they need for little to no cost.

The RX Solution helps those with financial difficulty in getting the medicine they need by connecting them with various Patient Assistance Programs. We do so by building a partnership with major pharmaceutical companies as well as with other medical professionals. This allows us to help people qualify for these programs for a small monthly cost.

If you need help with the cost of Victoza, call The RX Solution today at (888) 823-0042 to enroll in our widely successful programs.

Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a fast-acting type of insulin. Insulin helps to control blood sugar levels in diabetes mellitus, including diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2. Apidra is less popular than other insulins.

What is Apidra prescribed for?

Insulin glulisine is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in people with diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Insulin glulisine is a man-made product that is similar to human insulin. It replaces the insulin that your body would normally make. Insulin glulisine starts working faster and lasts for a shorter time than regular insulin. It works by helping blood sugar (glucose) get into cells so your body can use it for energy. This medication is usually used with a medium- or long-acting insulin product.

How does Apidra work?

Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the insulin. Insulin glulisine should be clear and colorless.

Before injecting each dose, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol. Change the injection site each time to lessen injury under the skin and to avoid developing problems under the skin (lipodystrophy). Insulin glulisine may be injected in the stomach area, the thigh, or the back of the upper arm. Do not inject into skin that is red, swollen, or itchy. Do not inject cold insulin because this can be painful. The insulin container you are currently using can be kept at room temperature (see also Storage section).

 What are the potential side effects of Apidra?

Injection site reactions (such as pain, redness, irritation) may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of low potassium level in the blood (such as muscle cramps, weakness, irregular heartbeat).

Help with the cost of Apidra

Not many people know that a number of Pharmaceutical companies run programs called the Patient Assistance Programs or prescription assistance programs. These programs are designed to help people with low income and little to no prescription insurance coverage by providing the medications at little or no money.

The Rx Solution is an organization that was founded to help such people. Here at The Rx Solution, we help a number of patients without prescription drug coverage to get medications through the various prescription assistance programs.

We bring together our nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies along with other medical professionals to help patients qualify for such programs for very low monthly fees. Our mission is to spread awareness of such programs and help eligible people get into such programs easily and without hassle.

If you need help with the cost of Apidra, call us today at (888) 823-0042 to enroll in our widely successful program. Join us today and let us lend you a helping hand.

Do you need help with the cost of Tanzeum? Tanzeum (albiglutide) is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Tanzeum is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. Tanzeum is usually given after other diabetes medications have been tried without success.

What is Tanzeum prescribed for?

Tanzeum is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes). Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Albiglutide is similar to a natural hormone in your body (incretin). It works by causing insulin release in response to high sugar levels (such as after a meal) and decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes.

Tanzeum is not a substitute for insulin if you need insulin treatment.

What are the potential side effects of Tanzeum?

Injection site pain, vomiting, and stomach upset may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine).

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: signs of pancreatitis (such as persistent nausea/vomiting, severe stomach/abdominal pain).

Help with the cost of Tanzeum

Not many people know that a number of Pharmaceutical companies run programs called the Patient Assistance Programs or prescription assistance programs. These programs are designed to help people with low income and little to no prescription insurance coverage by providing the medications at little or no money.

The Rx Solution is an organization that was founded to help such people. Here at The Rx Solution, we help a number of patients without prescription drug coverage to get medications through the various prescription assistance programs.

We bring together our nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies along with other medical professionals to help patients qualify for such programs for very low monthly fees. Our mission is to spread awareness of such programs and help eligible people get into such programs easily and without hassle.

If you need help with the cost of Tanzeum, call us today at (888) 823-0042 to enroll in our widely successful program. Join us today and let us lend you a helping hand.