Humulin R® Vial for Diabetes

What Humulin R Is and How It Works

This medicine is a short-acting human insulin for blood sugar control. Humulin R® helps move glucose from your blood into your cells. It starts working quickly and is used around meals to manage post-meal spikes. CanadianInsulin.com is a prescription referral platform. We verify prescriptions with your prescriber when required, and licensed Canadian pharmacies dispense your order. You can access this therapy with US delivery from Canada, even if you pay out of pocket or buy it without insurance.

This Regular insulin vial contains unmodified human insulin. It lowers glucose by binding insulin receptors and enabling cellular uptake. Onset and duration depend on dose, injection site, and your routine. It is typically taken before eating. See our Short Acting Insulin Vials category for related options.

Who It’s For

This treatment is indicated for adults and children with diabetes who need mealtime insulin. It may be used in both Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes when rapid glucose control around meals is needed. A hospital setting may also use regular insulin intravenously under clinician supervision.

People with a history of severe hypoglycemia, recurring low potassium, or allergy to insulin excipients should discuss risks with their healthcare professional. If your prescriber advises against this class, do not use it. An Insulin R vial is not a substitute for long-acting basal insulin unless directed by your prescriber.

Dosage and Usage

Follow your prescriber’s instructions and the official label. This medicine is usually injected subcutaneously 30 minutes before eating. Typical injection sites include the abdomen, thigh, buttock, or upper arm. Rotate sites to reduce lipodystrophy. Your total daily dose and timing depend on your glucose pattern, meals, and other therapies.

Use a new sterile syringe and needle for each injection. Check the solution before use; it should be clear and colorless. Do not use if cloudy, thickened, or contains particles. Do not share needles, syringes, or vials. For dosing context, see our Insulin Dosage Chart article.

Hospitals may give IV regular insulin for acute control under continuous monitoring. At home, subcutaneous use is standard. Your prescriber will decide if correction doses or sliding scales are appropriate. One vial presentation many users receive is the Humulin R 10 mL vial.

Strengths and Forms

Availability can differ by pharmacy and region. Common presentations include:

• 10 mL multiple-dose vial at the standard strength for subcutaneous injection.
• A concentrated option for patients requiring larger doses per unit volume.

Consult the label or your prescriber to choose the right presentation. One option some patients use is the Humulin R 500 units/mL vial. If your regimen requires a standard strength, your clinician will specify that. Not all strengths or pack sizes are always in stock.

Missed Dose and Timing

If you forget a mealtime injection and have not eaten, take it when remembered per your prescriber’s guidance and then eat. If the meal is over and you missed the window, monitor your glucose and follow your care plan. Do not double dose to make up for a missed injection. Track readings more frequently after a missed dose to reduce risk of highs and lows.

Storage and Travel Basics

Keep unopened vials refrigerated in the original carton. Do not freeze; discard if frozen. Protect from heat and direct light. Once in use, follow the label for in-use storage and discard timelines. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use beyond the labeled in-use period.

When traveling, carry insulin and supplies in a hand-carried bag. Use insulated pouches with cool packs to avoid temperature extremes. Do not place insulin directly against ice or gel packs. Carry a copy of your prescription and a travel letter if needed. Keep a backup meter, strips, and hypoglycemia treatment within reach. Our systems use encrypted checkout, and pharmacies apply temperature-controlled handling when required.

For more options, browse Insulin Products and Insulin Vials.

Benefits

This insulin can help reduce post-meal glucose rises when taken as directed. It allows flexible meal planning when coordinated with your basal insulin. It may be used in combination with other antidiabetic medicines when appropriate. The clear solution permits visual inspection before use, and vials support fine-tuned dosing with syringes under prescriber guidance.

Side Effects and Safety

• Low blood sugar: shakiness, sweating, headache, confusion
• Injection site reactions: redness, swelling, or irritation
• Weight gain with ongoing use
• Low potassium in some cases
• Fluid retention, especially with certain diabetes drugs

Severe hypoglycemia can occur and may require assistance. Allergic reactions are rare but can be serious. Seek urgent care for breathing difficulty, widespread rash, or swelling. Insulin can shift potassium; your prescriber may monitor electrolytes. Driving or operating machinery may be risky if you have frequent lows. People using insulin secretagogues or alcohol should be cautious due to added hypoglycemia risk.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Many medicines may change insulin needs. Agents that can increase the risk of low sugars include other antidiabetics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, MAO inhibitors, salicylates, and some antibiotics. Drugs that may raise glucose include corticosteroids, some diuretics, oral contraceptives, thyroid hormones, and sympathomimetics. Beta-blockers can mask hypoglycemia warning signs. Alcohol may increase the risk of both high and low glucose.

Tell your prescriber about kidney or liver issues, recent illness, changes in activity, or meal pattern shifts. Monitor glucose more often when starting, stopping, or changing interacting medicines.

What to Expect Over Time

You can expect this therapy to act around meals when used correctly. Patterns often stabilize with consistent meal timing, carbohydrate intake, and injection technique. Your clinician may adjust doses based on logs, meter readings, and A1C results. Keep a record of readings, doses, meals, and symptoms. Adherence, site rotation, and timely injections can support steadier control. See our primer on Premixed Insulin if your care team discusses mix options.

Compare With Alternatives

Some patients use another regular insulin brand for mealtime coverage, such as Novolin GE Toronto Vial. Those needing a premixed option that combines intermediate and short-acting components may consider Humulin 30 70 Vial under clinician guidance. Rapid-acting analogs have faster onset and shorter duration; your prescriber can advise which class fits your goals and routine.

Pricing and Access

See current options, compare pack sizes, and review typical cash-pay savings. We offer Canadian pricing with cross-border fulfilment. Orders Ships from Canada to US with pharmacy dispensing. If you track offers, view our current promotions on the Bulk Savings page and the site-wide Promotions page.

Check the Humulin R vial price on the product page and compare alternatives as needed. When ready, you can Order Humulin R vial online after your prescription is uploaded and verified.

Availability and Substitutions

Supply can vary. If a specific vial is unavailable, your prescriber may recommend an alternative formal presentation in the same class or a different mealtime insulin. Pharmacy teams cannot swap your insulin without prescriber approval. We cannot provide restock dates, but alternatives in related categories may fit your care plan.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

People who benefit often require mealtime glucose control as part of a basal-bolus plan. Those with recurrent severe lows, unpredictable meals, or significant renal or hepatic impairment should review risks with their clinician. Discuss use during pregnancy or breastfeeding with your healthcare professional.

To manage costs, consider multi-month refills if your prescriber agrees. Align auto-reminders with your usage so you do not run short. Consolidate orders with other diabetes supplies to reduce per-order fees. Review our Blood Sugar Control category to plan refills with compatible products.

Questions to Ask Your Clinician

• How should I time this insulin with my meals?
• What signs of low blood sugar matter most for me?
• How should I adjust if my activity or meals change?
• Which injection sites are best for me and how should I rotate?
• Should I use correction doses, and when?
• What is my plan for sick days and travel?
• How will we track progress and refine my regimen?

Authoritative Sources

DailyMed listing for human insulin products and label details.

Eli Lilly product information and resources.

Health Canada DPD database for Canadian product data.

Ready to proceed? You can place your order with US shipping from Canada and prompt, cold-chain shipping. This content is informational and does not replace your clinician’s advice.