ReliOn Insulin

Diabetes is when the body does not make enough insulin or does not respond to insulin properly. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the blood, causing high blood sugar. High blood sugar can lead to other health problems.

An autoimmune disorder in which your body makes little or no insulin because your immune system has attacked insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.

5–10% of adults with diabetes have type 1. Treatments must include long-acting (basal) & mealtime (bolus) insulin therapy.

A metabolic disorder that prevents your body from producing enough insulin & also makes your body more resistant to the insulin that is produced.

90–95% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes. Treatments may include insulin.

A1C is a blood test your healthcare provider performs in their office. It measures your average plasma glucose concentration, which is your blood sugar level, over the past 2 to 3 months. A1C is made up of your FPG and PPG measurements. Your A1C number will give you an idea of how well your blood sugar has been controlled over time and how well your diabetes care plan is working overall.

PPG stands for “postprandial plasma glucose.” “Postprandial” means “after a meal”—so PPG is the measure of your blood sugar level an hour or 2 after you’ve eaten. Measuring PPG is important for keeping track of blood sugar spikes, which can tell you how well your mealtime insulin is working and how closely you may be following your food plan.

Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose pass from the blood to the cells. It’s produced by beta cells in the pancreas.

Cells need glucose as an energy source. The glucose in food increases the level of glucose in the blood. Insulin regulates blood glucose levels by helping glucose pass from the blood into the cells.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body prevents the insulin it produces from working properly. This is known as “insulin resistance.” In type 2 diabetes, over time the body may not make enough insulin.

Depending on what type of diabetes you have & how much your diabetes has progressed, your healthcare provider may recommend insulin to better control your blood sugar levels and lower your A1C.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to know that even if you’re following your treatment plan, your diabetes can change over time. Your healthcare provider can work with you to develop a plan that works best for your needs.

You can take insulin by subcutaneous injection (with a pen or vial & syringe), or with a continuous subcutaneous infusion via an insulin pump.

There are many types of insulin medications. Each of them works at a different action time to closely mimic how the body normally releases insulin. Action times of insulins can be separated into the following:

An onset of action (time it takes for the insulin to start to lower blood glucose).

A peak-action time (when its effect on lowering blood glucose is highest).

A duration of action (how long it works to lower blood glucose).

Some types of insulin are long-acting & don’t depend on the food you eat; therefore, they’re administered at the same time every day. Others are administered at mealtimes to avoid the increase in blood glucose that occurs when food is eaten. Your provider will prescribe the type of insulin that is right for you. Each type of insulin can help keep your diabetes under control, but no one type is right for everyone & each person's need for insulin can change over time.

Everyone taking insulin should have a personal insulin plan. Your healthcare provider can help you design a plan that works for you. Your insulin plan will help you closely mimic how a body without diabetes produces insulin.

Your plan will tell you:

When & how much you eat.

Your current blood glucose level.

Your level of physical activity.

Your lifestyle.

The body's need for insulin goes up & down throughout the day. Your need for insulin depends on what you’re doing & on the amount of glucose in your blood.

Long-acting (basal) insulin lowers blood sugar throughout the day & may be taken to manage blood sugar for many hours & overnight.

Rapid-acting (bolus) insulin, also called mealtime insulin, helps control your blood sugar when taken as prescribed.

Bodies usually release insulin:

In a steady “basal” amount throughout the day & night.

In “bolus” bursts to control blood sugar spikes when you eat.

There are a few different ways you can take insulin. It's important to talk with your diabetes care team to find the method that works best for you. Ways to take insulin include:

Injecting it with an insulin pen.

Injecting it with a syringe from a bottle (vial) of insulin.

Infusing it with an insulin pump. Pumps are small, computerized devices that deliver fast-acting insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin.

Insulin injections are given in the layer of fat just under the skin in these areas of the body:

Abdomen (except a 2-inch circle around your belly button)

Thighs (top & outer parts)

Back of the upper arms

Buttocks

Insulin should be injected in the same general area of the body each time. However, to avoid lumps or buildup of scar tissue, injections should not be given in the exact same spot each day. Check with your insulin label for proper instructions for use.

It is possible for your blood sugar to drop too low. Ask your healthcare provider what blood sugar level is considered low for you.

If you’re taking insulin, you should know the symptoms of low blood sugar (also called hypoglycemia):

Sweaty

Hungry

Confused

Shaky

Lightheaded

Dizzy

Sleepy

Nervous

These are not all the possible symptoms of low blood sugar. Talk to your health care provider to get a complete list of symptoms.

If you’re already a NovoLog user, talk to your Walmart pharmacist about switching to ReliOn™ NovoLog®—the same prescription, now at an everyday low price.

If you’re new to NovoLog®, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for ReliOn™ NovoLog®, which you can fill at your closest Walmart Pharmacy. ReliOn™ Novolin® is available behind the pharmacy counter without a prescription.

ReliOn™ NovoLog® & ReliOn™ NovoLog® Mix 70/30 are both priced starting at $57.88 for a 10-ml vial & $83.88 for a pack of 5 pens.

ReliOn™ Novolin® N is available behind the pharmacy counter without a prescription & is priced starting at $24.88 for a 10-ml vial & $42.88 for a pack of 5 pens. The price is the same with or without insurance, so no insurance is necessary.