Ryzodeg Flextouch 300IU Injection

Insulin degludec/insulin aspart (70/30) is used to treat diabetes in adults, teenagers and children from 2 years of age. It helps lower blood sugar.

It contains two insulins in one injection:

• Insulin degludec (70%), a basal insulin with a long, steady blood sugar-lowering effect
• Insulin aspart (30%), a rapid-acting insulin that lowers blood sugar soon after injecting, to cover a meal

Use it exactly as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist tells you. They will show you how to use the pen before your first dose.

• Inject it under the skin of the tummy, upper arm or front of the thigh. Never inject into a vein or muscle, and do not use it in insulin pumps.
• Inject it once or twice a day with your main meal(s). You can change the time as long as it is taken with the largest meal(s).
• Change the injection spot each time to prevent lumps or pitting. Use a new needle every time.
• Check the label before every injection, and only use it if it is clear and colourless.
• If you forget a dose, inject it with your next large meal that day, then carry on as normal. Never inject a double dose.
• Do not stop using insulin without talking to your doctor.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) is very common. Signs include sweating, cold pale skin, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, headache, confusion or feeling sleepy. Eat glucose tablets or a sugary snack or drink straight away, check your sugar and rest.

Other side effects include redness, swelling, itching or pain where you inject, and short-lived swelling of the ankles when you start.

Get medical help straight away if:

• you pass out or have severe low blood sugar (others should lay you on your side and call for help, and not give food or drink)
• you have a serious allergic reaction: rash spreading over the body, sweating, vomiting, difficulty breathing, fast heartbeat or dizziness
• you have signs of very high blood sugar: thirst, passing more urine, dry flushed skin, fruity breath, feeling sick or sleepy

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using it if you:

• are switching from another type or brand of insulin
• take other diabetes medicines (especially pioglitazone), steroids, water tablets, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, thyroid medicines, contraceptive pills or asthma inhalers
• have kidney or liver problems, or are older (you may need more sugar checks)
• have diabetic eye disease
• are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding (your dose may need to change)

Tell your doctor if the skin where you inject becomes lumpy or thickened.

Before first use, keep in a fridge (2°C to 8°C), away from the freezer compartment, and do not freeze. Once in use, or if carried as a spare, the pen can be kept at room temperature (not above 30°C) or in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. Keep the cap on to protect from light, and keep out of the reach of children.

Driving: low or high blood sugar can affect your concentration. Ask your doctor whether you can drive if you often get low blood sugar or find it hard to notice.

Alcohol: it can make your blood sugar go up or down. Check your sugar more often if you drink.

Children: use with extra care in children aged 2 to 5, who may be at higher risk of very low blood sugar.

Never share your pen, and never draw insulin out of the pen with a syringe.