What is Insulin Aspart: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Follow the dosing instructions provided by the prescriber. 

Read and follow the instructions on the Patient Information sheet.

Give NovoLog or generic insulin aspart injections five to 10 minutes before a meal.

Inject Fiasp at the start of a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal.

A healthcare provider will demonstrate how to administer injections. 

Do not share syringes, needles, injection pens, or cartridges with other people.

A healthcare provider will provide instructions on which body areas to use for injections. Use a different body area for each injection.

Do not inject into skin that is thick, injured, bruised, thick, hard, scaly, lumpy, or scarred.

How to prepare for an injection:

• Wash your hands.

• Always check the insulin type, concentration, expiration date, and appearance of the medicine. The medicine should appear clear and colorless.

• Injections should only be administered under the skin (subcutaneously), never into a vein or a muscle.

• Do not mix insulin aspart with any other insulin except under the direction of a doctor. 

How to administer needle and syringe injections:

• Always use a new needle and syringe.

• Use only syringes that are made for insulin injections. 

• If you are mixing insulin aspart with another insulin, only mix it with NPH insulin. If you are mixing them in the same syringe, always draw up insulin aspart into the syringe first. 

• The prescriber will tell you whether it’s necessary to pinch the skin at the injection site. Follow these recommendations.

• Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let dry.

• Insert the needle into the skin as instructed.

• Push down the plunger and keep the needle in the skin for at least six seconds after the plunger is depressed.

• When finished, do not recap the needle.

• Dispose of the needle and syringe in a sharps container.

• Dispose of the empty vial in a sharps container.

How to administer FlexPen or FlexTouch injections:

• Prime the injection pen before its first use. Priming instructions are included with the medicine. 

• Always use a new needle for each injection. 

• Use the dose selector to select the prescribed number of units. 

• Clean the skin with an alcohol swab and let dry.

• Insert the needle into the skin. Make sure the pen’s dose counter is visible.

• Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter reaches “0.” Then wait six seconds by slowly counting to “six (6).”

• Pull the needle out of the skin.

• Carefully remove the needle from the pen and dispose of it in a sharps container.

• Never keep the needle attached to a pen when it’s not being used to administer an injection. 

• Replace the cap on the injection pen.

How to use insulin aspart PenFill cartridges:

• Use the cartridges only with a compatible injection pen such as the NovoPen Echo.

• The cartridge can be used to administer multiple doses of insulin aspart.

• Insert the cartridge with the threaded end down into the compatible injection pen.

• Follow the injection pen instructions for administering a dose.

How to fill an insulin pump with a PumpCart cartridge:

• Follow all the prescriber’s instructions and recommendations.

• Use the cartridge only in an insulin pump compatible with the PumpCart cartridge such as the iLet Bionic Pancreas insulin pump.

• Read and follow all the instructions in the insulin pump’s user manual for installing cartridges.

• Do not mix with any other insulins.

• Replace the cartridge at least every four days or as instructed in the pump’s user manual, whichever is shorter.

• Change the infusion set and infusion site following the instructions in the pump’s user manual.

• Remove and discard the cartridge if the pump is exposed to temperatures higher than 98.6°F. 

• Dispose of the cartridge when finished. Do not try to refill the cartridge.

• Immediately contact the prescriber if the insulin pump breaks or leaks. You may need to administer injections manually until the pump is fixed.

How to fill an insulin pump from an insulin aspart vial:

• Follow all the prescriber’s instructions and recommendations.

• Check to make sure the insulin pump is compatible with insulin aspart.

• Read and follow all the instructions in the insulin pump’s user manual.

• Do not mix insulin aspart with any other insulins in the insulin pump.

• Change the insulin solution in the pump reservoir at least every seven days or as instructed in the pump’s user manual, whichever is shorter.

• Change the infusion set and infusion site following the instructions in the pump’s user manual.

• If the pump is exposed to temperatures higher than 98.6°F, discard any medicine that is in the pump. 

• Immediately contact the prescriber if the insulin pump breaks or leaks. You may need to administer injections manually until the pump is fixed.

How to store insulin aspart:

• Store unopened vials, cartridges, or injection pens in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. 

• Store used vials in the refrigerator. 

• Store used injection pens at room temperature for up to 28 days. Do not refrigerate.

• Protect the vials, pens, cartridges, or insulin pump from heat and direct light. 

• Throw away any medicine that has passed the expiration date.

Ask the prescriber what to do if a dose of rapid-acting insulin is missed. 

The answer may vary between practitioners. Taking or skipping a missed dose will depend on what type of diabetes is being treated, what time it is, when the next meal is scheduled, and other issues.

As a general rule, a missed dose of rapid-acting insulin can be taken during or right after the meal. Some healthcare providers may approve taking the missed dose as much as two hours after a meal. However, follow the prescriber’s instructions.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

Do not use it if you have:

• Low blood sugar

• Known allergies to insulin aspart.

Insulin therapy requires regular doctor’s visits and blood tests to ensure the treatment is working safely. Keep all appointments.

Tell all doctors and other healthcare providers about using daily insulin. 

Tell the prescriber if you:

• Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

• Have kidney or liver problems

Insulin doses may need to change based on lifestyle changes, so make sure to tell the prescriber about:

• Any new illness

• Any change in stress

• Dietary changes

• Changes in physical activity

• Weight gain or weight loss

Insulin can cause serious side effects including low blood sugar and low potassium. 

• Low blood sugar is a common problem in people taking insulin. Be familiar with the clinical signs of low blood sugar and the proper response.

• Because of possible low blood sugar, people on insulin are more likely to experience accidents and injuries. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Be careful around the house and at work.

Never share insulin pens or needles with other people. There’s a risk of getting or spreading infection.

Do not give injections into thickened skin. The injection may be less effective and result in hyperglycemia. 

Insulin has only a few drug interactions. The most important are thiazolidinediones, a type of Type 2 diabetes drug. The combination increases the risk of fluid retention and possible heart failure.

Insulin doses may need to be changed in people taking drugs that raise or lower blood sugar levels.

Because so many drugs affect blood sugar levels, tell the prescriber about all the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you use, even if they’re only used once in a while.

For the same reason, always tell other doctors about insulin therapy before they prescribe new medications.

If a new drug is started, immediately inform your diabetes doctor. 

Do not drink alcohol or use any medications containing alcohol while you are using this medicine.