Novarapid

[gobbly2100]

Hey,

Where can I find lots of info on Novarapid insulin like how many hours it lasts for and stuff like that?

[Gary_W]

Hi

There are 3 different analogue insulins that I know of. As well as Novorapid, there is Humalog and Apidra. All the 3 big insulin companies make there own version, and all have different profiles.

There is a reaction profile for Novorapid on this site Data Sheet (http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/n/NovoRapidinj.htm)

However, reaction profiles are nothing more than a guide. Everyone reacts differently and it's not until you give it a go that you'll know for sure.

In me (and quite a few other people) Novorapid lasts in total 4-5 hours. It is supposed to start acting after 10 mins or so. Also it seemed to be that 25% of the dose got used per hour, and it was pretty much all gone by the time 4 hours were up. This made it a very reliable insulin, though it did mean that I would often have a fairly hefty peak at hour 2. In the morning, this would be pretty unpleasant.

For this reason, I switched to Apidra a few weeks ago. Apidra is the first insulin with me where the manufacturer's claimed swift onset is actually completely true. It really does hit like a train. I have now stopped trying to second guess it and pre-inject as a 20 min before breakfast injection last week with a high (for me) pre meal reading of 7.5 (135) resulting in me going very low indeed 20 mins after eating. My carb ration was spot on, it was purely the bell curve that got me!

If you do change to Novorapid (or anything else) take it steady for a day or two and the usual good practice of having fast acting carbs with you is doubly important. Of the three, Apidra claims to be fastest (though I've seen some people on here that it made no difference for). Next is supposed to be Novorapid, then Humalog. But these two are pretty close, and for some folks Humalog is quicker than Novorapid.

Gary

[ant hill]

Novo insulins (http://www.novonordisk.com/diabetes/public/diabetestools/insulins/default.asp)

[sparrow1]

This is the info I got from another user (Geoff) and I find it works for me:

I have been on NovoRapid for the last 18 months and find it very flexible to use. I personally find that each dosage that I give lasts up to 4.5 hrs, and for snacks between main meals I can eat up to 20grms of carbs without having to give a correction dose. Here are some facts about duration of NovoRapid that I have got off one of their sites.

4hr insulin curve using NovoRapid

1st hr = 30% used
1.5 hr = 50% " "
2hrs = 70% " "
3hrs = 90% " "
4hrs = 100% " "

[shabbie6247]

Novo insulins (http://www.novonordisk.com/diabetes/public/diabetestools/insulins/default.asp)

yeah this is where i got most of my information from too. and i always solemly declare myself as a health care professional when i access the site :whistling (well the patient side doesnt give quite such useful user info lol)

i always check my post prandial BG's at 3 hours with novorapid

btw i just got my new NP3 demi (gives me half unit measures) and i really like it, only down side is its much heavier than the flexpens (which i also like)

[LancetChick]

Yeah, you really do have to experiment. I'm one of those people that finds that Humalog is faster than Novalog (Novorapid). Novalog kicks in at about the 10 minute mark in me, and works steadily for 4 1/2 hours, and Humalog starts working at 15 minutes, and starts petering out by 3 hours, lasting only half an hour longer than that. Actually, Humalog is too fast for most foods, and I find I have to double bolus a LOT, but I use it anyway because of its value in correcting highs (I don't mind extra shots at all).

[REDLAN]

I use novorapid - it does work fast, but it's also gone pretty fast.

I get no significant BG lowering much beyond the 2 hour mark - at 2 hours that is normally as low as my BG is gonna go. Working from the average absorption chart e.g. 30% used after 1 hour - it does not tally with my correction doses.

e.g. breakfast I normally take 4 units this should leave approx 1 unit at 2 hours - as a correction dose this should lower my BG by around 2.5 mmol, but it never never produces anything like this drop - it's actually more normal for my BG to actually rise after 2 hours.

everyone however is different...

some people report long action times 4-5 hours - I never get this much. I actually get a very similar action curve to the one in the chart which Gary W supplied - I get that slight rise after 2 hours.

[ant hill]

I use novorapid - it does work fast, but it's also gone pretty fast.
Yes this stuff is fast and before i had novorapid i had actrapid and that had a onset of 1/2 an hour and lasts for 8 and the endo decided to withdraw it. So can you imagine an active person who to take novorapid would be a pain to use because of the faster metabolism of that person would just accelerate the rate and before you know it it's gone!!! :eek: