Novolin

Novolin is a brand name of insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. It is used in the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Novolin is a type of human insulin and is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company.

Types of Novolin

There are three types of Novolin insulin: Novolin R, Novolin N, and Novolin 70/30.

• Novolin R is a short-acting insulin, which means it starts to work about 30 minutes after injection, peaks in 2 to 3 hours, and keeps working for up to 8 hours.
• Novolin N is an intermediate-acting insulin, which starts to work within 2 to 4 hours after injection, peaks in 4 to 12 hours, and keeps working for 18 to 24 hours.
• Novolin 70/30 is a pre-mixed insulin, which contains 70% NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulin and 30% regular human insulin. It starts to work within 10 to 20 minutes after injection, peaks in 2 hours, and keeps working for up to 24 hours.

Usage

Novolin is used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus. It is usually given through subcutaneous injection into the fatty tissue just under the skin. The dosage is individualized and is determined by the healthcare provider based on the patient's needs.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, Novolin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common side effect of Novolin is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms of hypoglycemia include headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, and feeling anxious or shaky.

Precautions

Before using Novolin, patients should inform their healthcare provider if they have any other medical conditions, especially kidney or liver disease, or if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is also important to manage any other health conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, as part of the overall diabetes management plan.

See Also

• Insulin therapy
• Diabetes management
• Insulin types and comparison