Correction Insulin: Treat High Blood Sugar

Correction insulin is used to “correct” or treat high blood sugars. Some people use correction insulin if blood sugars are high before meals and/or at bedtime.

Types of Correction Insulin

Short-acting or rapid-acting insulin can be used. Examples include:

• Aspart (Novolog®, Fiasp®)

• Glulisine (Apidra®)

• Lispro (Humalog®, Lyumjev®, Admelog®)

• Regular

Key Points

Do not take correction insulin more often than every 4-6 hours unless you have been told to do so.

If you need to use correction insulin daily, for 3 or more days in a row, call your health care team. Your plan may need to be changed.

Exercise may increase your blood sugar at first but lower it later. You may not want to treat high blood sugars that can happen with exercise. Discuss this with your health care team.
If you use a long-acting (basal) insulin, take as directed. Do not take more when you have high blood sugars.