Insulin: Uses, Side Effects & Brands in Pakistan
Insulin is a blood sugar-lowering hormone given by injection. It is a prescription medicine used for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis. In Pakistan it is available as injections, made by 9 different manufacturers. On this page you can read how it works, its common side effects and precautions, and compare the brands and prices available at Medimart.
How Insulin works
Insulin is the hormone that lets sugar move out of the blood and into the body's cells, where it is used for energy. It also stops the liver from releasing too much stored sugar. Injected insulin replaces or tops up the body's own supply, bringing high blood sugar levels down.
What is Insulin used for?
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
Insulin is used to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs it, because their body no longer makes its own insulin. It is also used in type 2 diabetes when tablets are no longer enough, in diabetes during pregnancy, and in hospital to treat emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Different types work quickly or over a longer period, and your doctor chooses the type that suits you.
Side effects of Insulin
The effect to watch for most closely with Insulin is low blood sugar. Other common effects include:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), with shakiness, sweating or hunger
- Redness, itching or swelling at the injection site
- Lumps or thickened skin where injections are often given
- Weight gain
If you feel shaky, sweaty, confused or unusually drowsy, take a sugary drink or glucose straight away and then eat. Get emergency help if the person cannot swallow, becomes unconscious or has a fit.
Precautions and warnings
- Change your injection site each time within the area your nurse or doctor has shown you, as repeated use of one spot causes lumps and makes the insulin work less reliably.
- Store unopened insulin in a refrigerator and never freeze it; do not use insulin that looks different from normal or has been left in the heat.
- Never change your type or brand of insulin, or share a pen or needle, without speaking to your doctor.
- Alcohol, skipped meals and extra exercise can all cause low blood sugar, so check your levels regularly and take particular care before driving.
- Insulin is widely used in pregnancy and breastfeeding, but your treatment will need close review by your doctor during this time.
Frequently asked questions about Insulin
What is the price of Insulin in Pakistan?
At Medimart, Insulin products currently in stock range from Rs 338 to Rs 12,687 per pack, depending on the brand, strength and pack size. The lowest-priced option right now is Dongsulin 100iu Penfill Injection at Rs 338. Prices are updated regularly, so the product list on this page always shows the latest price.Which brands of Insulin are available in Pakistan?
Insulin is sold in Pakistan under brand names such as Dongsulin (Highnoon Laboratories Ltdoratories Ltd), Humalog (Eli Lilly Pakistan Ltd), Actrapid (Novo Nordisk), Insuget (Getz Pharma Ltd), Zansulin (Zafa Pharmaceutical Labortories Ltd), Humulin (Eli Lilly Pakistan Ltd), Insulatard (Novo Nordisk) and Mixtard (Novo Nordisk), along with 16 more brands listed below.Do I need a prescription for Insulin?
Yes. Insulin is a prescription medicine in Pakistan. Use it only when a doctor has prescribed it, at the dose and for the time they advise.
Can Insulin be used during pregnancy?
Insulin is widely used in pregnancy and breastfeeding, but your treatment will need close review by your doctor during this time.
Are all Insulin brands the same?
Brands that contain the same amount of Insulin in the same form are expected to work in the same way, although inactive ingredients, pack sizes and prices differ. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching from one brand to another.
Insulin brands and prices in Pakistan
Medimart lists 30+ products containing Insulin from different manufacturers. Compare strengths, pack sizes and prices below and order online with cash on delivery.
