Short answer: The Humalog label gives each dose under the skin within fifteen minutes before a meal or immediately after a meal, usually alongside an intermediate or long-acting insulin. The dose is individualized by metabolic needs, glucose monitoring and goals, and the label gives no fixed starting dose. It has no missed-dose rule. In a pump, the insulin is changed at least every 7 days.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Humalog is approved for: Humalog is a rapid-acting mealtime insulin approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes (section 1).
Source
HUMALOG (insulin lispro) injection, for subcutaneous or intravenous use, prescribing information and Patient Information. Eli Lilly and Company. DailyMed, version published August 10, 2026. DailyMed setid c8ecbd7a-0e22-4fc7-a503-faa58c1b6f3f
Humalog is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, upper arm or buttocks within fifteen minutes before a meal or immediately after a meal, rotating sites within the same region. By injection it is generally used with an intermediate or long-acting insulin (section 2.2).
It comes as U-100 (100 units/mL) in 10 mL and 3 mL vials, 3 mL cartridges, a KwikPen, a Junior KwikPen and a Tempo Pen, and as U-200 (200 units/mL) in a 3 mL KwikPen. Pen dose windows show units with no conversion needed. Only U-100 can be used in an insulin pump or given into a vein (sections 2.1, 2.2 and 3).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| When to inject | Within fifteen minutes before a meal or immediately after a meal |
| Dose | Individualized by route, metabolic needs, glucose monitoring and glucose goal; no fixed starting dose is given |
| Switching from another insulin | A different dose of Humalog may be needed |
| KwikPen U-100, Tempo Pen U-100, KwikPen U-200 | 1-unit steps, up to 60 units per injection |
| Junior KwikPen U-100 | 0.5-unit steps, up to 30 units per injection |
| Mixing U-100 by syringe | With NPH insulin only; Humalog drawn in first; inject immediately |
| U-100 in a pump, or U-200 | Not mixed with any other insulin |
| Pump reservoir (U-100 only) | Change at least every 7 days, or per the pump manual if shorter |
| Diluted U-100 (under medical supervision) | U-10 or U-50 with Sterile Diluent; 28 days refrigerated at 41 F or 14 days at room temperature up to 86 F |
| IV infusion (U-100 only) | 0.1 to 1.0 unit/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride; 48 hours refrigerated, then up to 48 more hours at room temperature |
| Presentation | Unopened, room temp up to 86 F | Unopened, refrigerated 36-46 F | In use (opened) |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-100 10 mL vial | 28 days | Until expiration date | 28 days, refrigerated or room temperature |
| U-100 3 mL vial | 28 days | Until expiration date | 28 days, refrigerated or room temperature |
| U-100 3 mL cartridge | 28 days | Until expiration date | 28 days, room temperature only (do not refrigerate) |
| U-100 KwikPen, Tempo Pen, Junior KwikPen | 28 days | Until expiration date | 28 days, room temperature only (do not refrigerate) |
| U-200 KwikPen | 28 days | Until expiration date | 28 days, room temperature only (do not refrigerate) |
At room temperature, Humalog U-100 and U-200 can be used for 28 days in total, counting unopened and opened time. Opened vials may be refrigerated or kept at room temperature.
Dose changes may be needed with changes in physical activity, meal content or timing, kidney or liver function, or during acute illness. Glucose is checked more often during any change to the insulin regimen.
Humalog U-200 is not transferred from the pen to a syringe, not used in an insulin pump and not given into a vein. Pens are used with caution by people with poor vision who rely on the clicks.
Pump users are trained to inject insulin and keep backup insulin in case of pump failure. Humalog in a pump is not diluted or mixed, and not exposed to temperatures above 98.6 F (37 C).
Humalog by vein is given only under medical supervision with close checks of blood sugar and potassium.
Humalog is protected from direct heat and light, never frozen, and not used if it has been frozen.
Patients are taught how to handle illness, stress, an inadequate or skipped insulin dose, an accidental extra dose, too little food and skipped meals. The label does not spell out what to do in each case.
The Humalog label gives no missed-dose rule. Section 17 says patients are instructed on handling an inadequate or skipped insulin dose, but neither the prescribing information nor the Patient Information says what to do.
More on this: missed a dose of Humalog.
When switching from another insulin to Humalog, a different dose of Humalog may be needed.
Any change of insulin strength, maker, type, site or method is made under close medical supervision with more frequent glucose checks. In type 2 diabetes, doses of other diabetes medicines may need adjusting.
In Dose Track you set up Humalog as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.