Novolog vs Humalog

[Mark C]

OK.... I've got the Novolog down and have been using it for several months now. Today, the doc gave me a sample pack of Humalog pens to use. The insert described it seems like it is similar to the Novolog. Is it? Same rapidity? Unit for unit?? Need I worry over much about the differences?

[gettingby]

Hi Mark. Can't really help ya here cause I've only been on Humalog. I've read in posts here that Novolog works faster (if I'm not correct, someone please correct me). Duck or Dewey may have more advice for you. Sorry I wasn't much help. :whistling

[duck]

Cin is right...The Novolog seems to hit faster, and seems more heat tolerant (from what others have said and from what my pump trainer asserted last weekend). There is nothing wrong with Humalog, in my opinion, but maybe Novolog is *just* that much better...

[am1977]

Hey Mark,

I think :hmmmm: both types of insulins are similar. According to my CDE/dietician, my Endo's practice hasn't noticed any real differences in the control that those have with Novolog versus the control those have that use Humalog. I have been using Humalog for awhile now, and was hoping to try Novolog, but unfortunately it isn't a "preferred" brand(according to my insurance) so I won't be getting it :argh: . When it comes to change insurance plans, I'm going to try and look into getting it again...just to see if I experience any noticable difference.

Take care :wink:

[Dewey]

Hi Mark, :hello:

From my understanding, Novolog may take a little longer to kick in (I think it's approximately 15 to 30 minutes as opposed to Humalog's 5 to 15, or there about), but it lasts longer in the system than Humalog. I also understand that it's more heat tolerant, and doesn't tend to break down as easily as Humalog may (in high heat). I found a few articles on them (two on differences, and one on Humalog itself), and hope they'll be helpful to you:

Differences between Humalog (insulin Lispro) and Novolog (Insulin Aspart) (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CUH/is_6_24/ai_76610126)

Diabetes Mall, Novolog and Humalog (http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_treatments/insulin_humalog.php)

Yahoo Drug Information (http://health.yahoo.com/drug/d04373a1)
Once again, hope these help. Hope you will also keep us posted on any differences you may experience. Thanks! :)

[MarkMunday]

A study in which bg levels were clamped after lispro/aspart was injected showed that Novolog peaks at 52 minutes and Humalog peaks at 75 minutes ( I can't remember wher I saw it). I have used them both. And I have found Novolog to be noticeably quicker. Postprandial spikes are not as high. And I am able to inject immediately before eating. When I was using Humalog, I would inject 15 minutes before eating to avoid huge spikes after meals.

Cheers,

Mark

[Bobby]

I was taking Novalog, and asked my doctor for the pen and mistakenly told him humalog. When I corrected myself after he wrote the perscription he told me they were the same thing and gave me the humalog...

Both of them seem exaclty the same to me. Oddly enough, both seem to take quite a bit of time to take effect in me. I don't know if that is normal or not...

[KickStart101]

I was taking Novalog, and asked my doctor for the pen and mistakenly told him humalog. When I corrected myself after he wrote the perscription he told me they were the same thing and gave me the humalog...

Both of them seem exaclty the same to me. Oddly enough, both seem to take quite a bit of time to take effect in me. I don't know if that is normal or not...

Hi And Welcome Bobby. Glad that you found us. I hope you enjoy
it here.
Some people on here have commented that Novolog is better and
works faster. I've never been on it. I'm on Humalog, it starts working
in 10 minutes and brings my sugars down quite quickly. If Novolog works
faster, I don't think I'd want to try it. Although, I would probably get used to
that one also in time.
That's odd that those Insulins wouldn't work quick enough on you also.
How long does it take to bring your sugars down usually?

[Bobby]

That's odd that those Insulins wouldn't work quick enough on you also.
How long does it take to bring your sugars down usually?

The main way I determined the time was one day I forgot to do my pre-lunch injection (I'm still getting used to the new insulin, I was on R & N until about 4 months ago)...

I did an injection then proceeded to test my blood sugar every 10 to 20 minutes, and I didn't see an actual drop until about 45 minutes or so. I suppose I should do more testing to be sure, it's possible it was still going up while the insulin started working, and was simply slowing down... But the 10 minutes I was quoted does not seem very accurate from repeated experience...

Of coarse it might be prudent to note that I've had a pretty slow system all my life. I didn't realize it until a low blood sugar incident where I was given glucose by a paramedic and a short while later he told me I should be taken to the hospital. I refused but he said the reason for the recomendation was that he had given me glucose and my blood sugar didn't appear to be going up properly... I ended up fine after time, but I pretty much have come to the conclusion that my body tends to be slow when motabilizing.

This maybe the reason the 'logs' seem to be taking so long in me...

[KickStart101]

Well, it could be the way your body works and it definitely could be that
your sugars were still going up, indeed, depending on what you ate. Just
because the Insulin says it starts working in 10 minutes, doesn't mean
that you will see a lower blood sugar that soon. Give it another couple
months even. Also perhaps you did not take enough Insulin to counteract
the food intake. If your blood sugar was a bit high before you took the shot
and ate, then it takes times for Insulin to work on that also.