Why have so many switched to Novolog? And, what differences have you seen?

[Littlebit63_99]

My insurance company forced a switch for me last fall. Fortunately, a "Little Angel" gave me some extra vials of Humolog, and I haven't had to switch. Hopefully, I will get my transplant before I have to switch, cuz I have heard Novolog is a little more potent......and I DON'T need any more lows.

The post by Bjorne... "what insulin are you pumping?" showed alot of people who had switched from Humolog to Novolog.

I wanted to ask why, and what changes if any people had seen.

Thank you. :)

[nantomsuethom]

We were told that Novolog holds up in the heat better. We tried it for a few weeks (sample from the endo) and his sites seem to hold up better too. His bg level doesn't start creeping up after a few days like it did with Humalog.

[Amanda_Jo22]

I have found that, while Novolog tends to be a little stronger than I need, Humalog does not work AT ALL. My endo wanted me to try out Humalog, and I had to raise my basals from 0.6 to 1.3 and I was still sitting consistently in the 300-400's. I switched back to Novolog, and all was well again.

[duck]

I seem to run a bit low...I'm still sorting it all out, though...

[Eri's mom]

With Eri, I have noticed that the novolog works a lot better ...and quicker....than the humalog. The NPH is a WHOLE entirely different story though!!!

[ricardo]

With Eri, I have noticed that the novolog works a lot better ...and quicker....than the humalog. The NPH is a WHOLE entirely different story though!!!

does it start faster or peak faster, or both?

[duck]

does it start faster or peak faster, or both?

I feel like it does both...I need to re-figure my basals out, since obviously there is a cumulative effect on the pump. Also, when I need a correction bolus, it does come down to "normal" about half an hour sooner than I am accustomed. Maybe Novonordisk has something figured out!

[YouthIncJr]

Wow, you guys on the novolog make me think I should try that. My endo wanted me to try the apidera. I don't know if I am using more or not yet. I am the first from my endo's office to be using the apidera in a pump. I was willing to try as the insulin was free. Has anyone else gone from humalog or novalog to apidera? I would like to know what your expereinces has been with that.
~JR

[daddyo]

I switched to novolog years ago and found it to work quicker and peak sooner so it works great in a pump. I beleive you get better control, but YMMV. just an opinion and we all have them, what works for you, works for you. For me every time something new comes out for diabetes I will always give it a try, you never know it may work better for you. You don't know unless you try right?

[Dewey]

I switched to novolog years ago and found it to work quicker and peak sooner so it works great in a pump. I beleive you get better control, but YMMV. just an opinion and we all have them, what works for you, works for you. For me every time something new comes out for diabetes I will always give it a try, you never know it may work better for you. You don't know unless you try right?
I completely agree, Daddyo. I was very glad when Humalog initially came onto the market. However, after almost 9 years on it (was taking Buffered Regular from March of 96 till Humalog became available in August or so...) & hearing many success stories here, and being curious as I am :D, I'd definitely like to give Novolog a try. It seems many are happy (or even happier) with it. It's definitely worth it to try new regimes and methods. If we don't, we may never know if something may work better for us...

[daddyo]

I completely agree, Daddyo. I was very glad when Humalog initially came onto the market. However, after almost 9 years on it (was taking Buffered Regular from March of 96 till Humalog became available in August or so...) & hearing many success stories here, and being curious as I am :D, I'd definitely like to give Novolog a try. It seems many are happy (or even happier) with it. It's definitely worth it to try new regimes and methods. If we don't, we may never know if something may work better for us...


There you go.you have to do somthing to break up the monotiny of this day to day. You have to live with this for the rest of your life, so why not try something new, if it works great, if not, you go back to your old standby tried and true method.

[middnite03]

now I found exactly the opposite, I tried novolog once, and it seemed to work slower, and I needed to bolus more of it with a meal, now i'll admit, I only tried it on 1 site, and for 1, 3 day set. but after reading this, i'm gonna have to try it out again. is there any truth that if you switch insulins, your body builds up anti-bodies to the insulin you just stopped, so that when you try it again it wont work as well???

[duck]

now I found exactly the opposite, I tried novolog once, and it seemed to work slower, and I needed to bolus more of it with a meal, now i'll admit, I only tried it on 1 site, and for 1, 3 day set. but after reading this, i'm gonna have to try it out again. is there any truth that if you switch insulins, your body builds up anti-bodies to the insulin you just stopped, so that when you try it again it wont work as well???

Boy, I hope not, since I have about six vials of Humalog to work through! LOL.

[Amanda_Jo22]

Just a little fyi for those of you who are trying out Novolog (or are already on it), Novo Nordisk is offering a $25 rebate.

http://www.novolog.com/consumer/global/rebate.asp

[Littlebit63_99]

I have always been very proactive in the care of my diabetes. If a new drug, insulin, regiment, gizmo, etc. came out.....I was at the doc, asking for it.
However, Novolog scares the tar out of me. I applied for my transplant only because I could no longer tolerate the lows. The severity, the frequency, having them without any symtoms. Now, if I switch to Novolog.........???????????? Well, thanks all for the responses. I was curious.

Hopefully, the call will come and I won't have to switch. I have about a month and a half left of Humolog.....and the Novolog is waiting. I will donate anything left over to a local hospital that treats people without insurance.

[duck]

I have always been very proactive in the care of my diabetes. If a new drug, insulin, regiment, gizmo, etc. came out.....I was at the doc, asking for it.
However, Novolog scares the tar out of me. I applied for my transplant only because I could no longer tolerate the lows. The severity, the frequency, having them without any symtoms. Now, if I switch to Novolog.........???????????? Well, thanks all for the responses. I was curious.

Hopefully, the call will come and I won't have to switch. I have about a month and a half left of Humolog.....and the Novolog is waiting. I will donate anything left over to a local hospital that treats people without insurance.


I wonder since it seems to have a stronger effect in most of us if you would detect the low better because of that effect?

[jdstein11]

My doctor started me on Novolog as soon as I began treatment, and I'm too new to know any better what's out there. I'm also using Lantis for bedtime insulin.

[Littlebit63_99]

Oringinally posted by Duck,I wonder since it seems to have a stronger effect in most of us if you would detect the low better because of that effect?

Duck, I don't know. Tho, I have to admit, I'm afraid to try.

On, father's day, we left the house.....to go to dad's of course. We had to stop at a store. Jeff needed a card for his step dad. We stopped at two stores, and finally found some decent cards...........let me back up here. When I left the house, my blood sugar was high..........220. That's very high for me, but, hey it happens. Anyway, at the second store, all of sudden, I said, "Jeff, honey, I don't feel good." We got out to the car, and my blood sugar was 59. I have stuff in the car ALL the time. I started drinking some coke, and said, "you might have to call 911" Jeff asked why just as I started doing the croppy flop. See, no warning, well hardly any. And, very little time. That bs level must have just been plummeting, cuz I don't lose it till I get down to around 30.

So, I'm afraid to try something with Novologs reputation.

[jdstein11]

Oringinally posted by Duck,

Duck, I don't know. Tho, I have to admit, I'm afraid to try.

On, father's day, we left the house.....to go to dad's of course. We had to stop at a store. Jeff needed a card for his step dad. We stopped at two stores, and finally found some decent cards...........let me back up here. When I left the house, my blood sugar was high..........220. That's very high for me, but, hey it happens. Anyway, at the second store, all of sudden, I said, "Jeff, honey, I don't feel good." We got out to the car, and my blood sugar was 59. I have stuff in the car ALL the time. I started drinking some coke, and said, "you might have to call 911" Jeff asked why just as I started doing the croppy flop. See, no warning, well hardly any. And, very little time. That bs level must have just been plummeting, cuz I don't lose it till I get down to around 30.

So, I'm afraid to try something with Novologs reputation.
What's the reputation? I'm on Novolog Penfill.

[Littlebit63_99]

Novolog is "supposed" to work alittle quicker and alittle stronger than Humolog.
Tho, all people react differently to everything. Diabetes is a very idividual disease.

BTW, I did not bolus for that high bs, because I knew that the day would be very active for me, and I just know better. That low happened all by itself.
And, again, the lows are why I finally applied for my transplant. I qualified a few years ago.....but, didn't want to.