NovoRapid Patient Counseling Information

Instructions on how to use NovoRapid solution for injection in FlexPen: Read the following instructions carefully before using your FlexPen. If you do not follow the instructions carefully, you may get too little or too much insulin, which can lead to too high or too low blood sugar level.
Your FlexPen is a pre-filled dial-a-dose insulin pen. You can select doses from 1 to 60 units in increments of 1 unit. FlexPen is designed to be used with NovoFine or NovoTwist disposable needles up to a length of 8 mm. As a precautionary measure, always carry a spare insulin delivery device in case your FlexPen is lost or damaged.
Caring for your pen: Your FlexPen must be handled with care.
If it is dropped, damaged or crushed, there is a risk of insulin leakage. This may cause inaccurate dosing, which can lead to too high or too low blood sugar level.
You can clean the exterior of your FlexPen by wiping it with a medicinal swab. Do not soak it, wash or lubricate it as it may damage the pen.
Do not refill your FlexPen. Once empty, it must be disposed of.
Preparing your NovoRapid FlexPen: Check the name and coloured label of your pen to make sure that it contains the correct type of insulin. This is especially important if you take more than one type of insulin. If you take the wrong type of insulin, your blood sugar level may get too high or too low.
Pull off the pen cap.
Remove the paper tab from a new disposable needle. Screw the needle straight and tightly onto your FlexPen.
Pull off the big outer needle cap and keep it for later.
Pull off the inner needle cap and dispose of it. Never try to put the inner needle cap back on the needle. You may stick yourself with the needle.
Always use a new needle for each injection. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of insulin, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing.
Be careful not to bend or damage the needle before use.
Checking the insulin flow: Prior to each injection small amounts of air may collect in the cartridge during normal use. To avoid injection of air and ensure proper dosing: Turn the dose selector to select 2 units.
Hold your FlexPen with the needle pointing upwards and tap the cartridge gently with your finger a few times to make any air bubbles collect at the top of the cartridge.
Keeping the needle upwards, press the push-button all the way in. The dose selector returns to 0. A drop of insulin should appear at the needle tip. If not, change the needle and repeat the procedure no more than 6 times. If a drop of insulin still does not appear, the pen is defective, and you must use a new one.
Always make sure that a drop appears at the needle tip before you inject. This makes sure that the insulin flows. If no drop appears, you will not inject any insulin, even though the dose selector may move. This may indicate a blocked or damaged needle.
Always check the flow before you inject. If you do not check the flow, you may get too little insulin or no insulin at all. This may lead to too high blood sugar level.
Selecting your dose: Check that the dose selector is set at 0.
Turn the dose selector to select the number of units you need to inject. The dose can be corrected either up or down by turning the dose selector in either direction until the correct dose lines up with the pointer. When turning the dose selector, be careful not to push the push-button as insulin will come out. You cannot select a dose larger than the number of units left in the cartridge.
Always use the dose selector and the pointer to see how many units you have selected before injecting the insulin.
Do not count the pen clicks. If you select and inject the wrong dose, your blood sugar level may get too high or too low. Do not use the residual scale, it only shows approximately how much insulin is left in your pen.
Further important information: Caregivers must be very careful when handling used needles - to reduce the risk of needle sticks and cross-infection.
Dispose of your used FlexPen carefully without the needle attached.
Never share your pen or your needles with other people. It might lead to cross-infection.
Never share your pen with other people. Your medicine might be harmful to their health.
Always keep your pen and needles out of sight and reach of others, especially children.
Making the injection: Insert the needle into your skin. Use the injection technique shown by your doctor or nurse.
Inject the dose by pressing the push-button all the way in until 0 lines up with the pointer. Be careful only to push the push-button when injecting. Turning the dose selector will not inject insulin.
Keep the push-button fully depressed and let the needle remain under the skin for at least 6 seconds. This will make sure you get the full dose. Withdraw the needle from the skin, then release the pressure on the push-button. Always make sure that the dose selector returns to 0 after the injection. If the dose selector stops before it returns to 0, the full dose has not been delivered, which may result in too high blood sugar level .
Lead the needle into the big outer needle cap without touching it. When the needle is covered, carefully push the big outer needle cap completely on and then unscrew the needle. Dispose of it carefully and put the pen cap back on.
Always remove the needle after each injection and store your FlexPen without the needle attached. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of insulin, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing.
NovoRapid solution for injection in cartridge: Penfill: Instructions for Use for the Patient: Do not use NovoRapid: If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to insulin aspart or any of the other ingredients in NovoRapid.
If you suspect hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is starting.
If the cartridge or the device containing the cartridge is dropped, damaged or crushed.
If it has not been stored correctly or if it has been frozen.
If the insulin does not appear clear and colourless.
Before using NovoRapid: Check the label to make sure it is the right type of insulin.
Always check the cartridge, including the rubber stopper. Do not use it if any damage is seen or if there is a gap between the rubber stopper and the white label band. Take it back to your supplier. See your delivery system manual for further instructions.
Always use a new needle for each injection to prevent contamination.
Needles and NovoRapid Penfill must not be shared.
Method of administration: NovoRapid is for injection under the skin (subcutaneously). NovoRapid may also be given directly into a vein (intravenously) by healthcare professionals. Never inject your insulin directly into a muscle (intramuscular).
Always vary the sites you inject within the same region to reduce the risk of developing lumps or skin pitting. The best places to give yourself an injection are: the front of your waist (abdomen); the upper arm or the front of your thighs. The insulin will work more quickly if injected into the waist. You should measure your blood sugar regularly.
How to inject this insulin: Inject the insulin under the skin. Use the injection technique advised by your doctor or nurse and as described in your delivery system manual.
Keep the needle under your skin for at least 6 seconds. Keep the push-button fully depressed until the needle has been withdrawn. This will ensure correct delivery and limit possible flow of blood into the needle or insulin reservoir.
After each injection be sure to remove and discard the needle and store NovoRapid without the needle attached. Otherwise the liquid may leak out which can cause inaccurate dosing.
Do not refill the cartridge.
NovoRapid Penfill is designed to be used with Novo Nordisk insulin delivery systems and NovoFine or NovoTwist needles.
If you are treated with NovoRapid Penfill and another insulin Penfill cartridge, you should use two insulin delivery systems, one for each type of insulin.
As a precautionary measure, always carry a spare insulin delivery system in case your Penfill is lost or damaged.