Humalog or Novolog: Which Insulin is Right for You?

Maintaining normal blood glucose levels is crucial to guarantee the proper functioning of their body. It’s also quite important for preventing various health conditions, like kidney damage, heart issues, or nervous system-related disorders. In order to pick the proper treatment for an individual, certain nuances should be defined, such as the type of diabetes (type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes), a patient’s age, the history of health conditions, and other crucial factors. When all of these are discussed, and all treatment details are clear and understandable, the right prescription medicine and its dosage can be recommended. Today’s article is dedicated to two brand-name medications – Humalog and Novolin.

In case you have trouble understanding the difference between these two insulin types, want to know more about the medication you’ve been recommended to use, or just would like to enrich your general knowledge of the topic, – this article is for you. Insulin.Store offers the best insulin prices on the market and ensures people can learn about all the nuances of diabetes and insulin resistance. Check out the whole selection of products on this website and buy Humalog online at the most affordable cost!

Novolog vs. Humalog. Insulin Basic Similarities

Both Humalog and Novolog are human insulin analogs used for blood sugar and glucose level control; while the first one is the brand name for insulin lispro, the second one plays the same role for insulin aspart. They both belong to a rapid-acting insulin type, which means it’s better to use them together with long-acting insulin to provide a better effect and control blood sugar levels for longer.

Note: Rapid-acting insulins usually need about 30 minutes to reach the bloodstream and start acting with a peak in 2-3 hours; long-acting ones require a few hours to get into the bloodstream properly and may act up to 24 hours in the human body. 

A few similarities can confuse beginners in the diabetes mellitus sphere, and thus they should definitely be discussed in the Humalog vs. Novolog difference article. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Formulations and Administration Methods

Both drugs are available in the vial, cartridge, and injection pen forms, and the right one should be picked based on the individual’s preferences and the overall comfort of the process. 3ml and 10ml sizes are available, and a suitable one is purchased according to a prescribed dosage. The injection spots are pretty similar to any other insulin type – abdominal zone, upper arm, thighs, and buttocks.

Rapid-Acting Working Principle

Novolog and Humalog belong to the fast-acting insulin kind and can be used for both diabetes type 1 and type 2 treatment. However, Humalog insulin is more generally recommended for diabetes type one (even though it can be used for the second one as well); Novolin, on the other hand, is equally prescribed for both diabetes types, so it may be even more common than Humalog for diabetic patients. These options also work well to treat gestational diabetes (the one that may occur in pregnant women).

Speaking about the effects of rapid-acting forms of insulin, Humalog and Novolog have to be administered approximately 15 minutes before the meal; in 10 to 15 minutes, they’ll start working and reach their peak in approximately an hour. The injection cannot be skipped because it may negatively influence the overall success of the treatment and a general patient’s well-being.

Similar Side Effects

Typically, insulin products are not followed by severe adverse reactions; the most common ones may occur because the body needs time to get used to a new medication. Thus, people should be ready for nausea, diarrhea, and headache after the first shots of insulin lispro or aspart. Some individuals may also experience low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycemia) if they administer more insulin than was initially recommended. In the long run, slight weight gain may also be expected due to new eating habits and possible appetite increase.

The one thing that shouldn’t be ignored is severe adverse effects, like allergic reactions or constantly low blood sugar. If not taken under control on time, it may be dangerous and even deathly, so make sure to inform a medical professional about all the warning signs on time.

You can visit our article on Novolog Sliding Scale. Find out all the information about this drug from our specialists.

Novolog Insulin vs. Humalog in Terms of Differences

Except for such similarities as drug interactions and working principles, there are also quite a few differences that should be considered when choosing the most suitable and helpful option to maintain one’s blood sugar at an average level.

Acting Time

Novolog works slightly faster than Humalog after you are done with administration. While the first one required 5 to 10 minutes, up to 20 are needed for the second type. That’s why a recommended injection time slightly varies, too: Novolog should be administered 5-10 minutes before the meal or soon after you start eating. Humalog is better used 15 minutes before or right after the meal.

Suitable Age for the Drug Application

When it comes to adult patients, Novolin and Humalog for high blood sugar levels are not that different; however, recommendations may vary for the younger audience. Just like that, Humalog can be prescribed to children with type 1 diabetes above the age of 3, and Novolin works well for kids with the first diabetes type of 2 years and older.

Biological Structure

Both brand-name medications are synthetic human insulin, which means there are certain differences in their amino acid composition to provide better absorption than natural human insulin. Insulin lispro (Humalog) consists of two polypeptide chains, and two last amino acids in the B chain are switched for better effectiveness (so proline is moved from its traditional position). As for insulin aspart (Novolog), aspartic acid is used in the chain instead of proline.

These alterations allow both medications to work faster and reach their peak within an hour, which means speedy blood glucose control after eating is guaranteed to an individual.

Humalog vs. Novolog. Which Is Better for My Needs?

Such medicines as Novolog, Humalog, and other types of subcutaneous injection are usually quite similar within their price range, so there is nothing to discuss regarding the Novolog vs. Humalog cost topic. We decided it’s worth mentioning as many individuals choose the drug based on its price and not the product’s composition. The cost differs based on the insulin’s form of release (e.g., pen, vial, etc.), recommended dosage, supplier of their choice, and others. In order to select the best variant, it’s crucial to discuss all the questions with a doctor; in the end, you will need a prescription to buy any of the injections mentioned in this article, so why not talk through all the worries with a professional and understand every aspect of your treatment better?

In case you want to order Novolog, Humalog, or any other medication on our website, contact our managers to place an order. We will need to check your prescription before selling anything, as it’s illegal to sell insulin products to individuals without an official doctor’s recommendation. 

Are you interested in the topic of insulin and drugs for their regulation? Then you should visit our article Ozempic vs. Metformin to understand the difference between these drugs.

To Sum Up: About the Differences Between Novolog and Humalog

Novolog and Humalog are prescription medications used to control blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes type 1, type 2, as well as gestational diabetes. They are both fast-acting and should be used together with long-lasting insulins to provide the best possible results. In order to choose the best option for the treatment, a patient should have an appointment in a doctor’s office to discuss all their health peculiarities that may affect the type of recommended drug, as well as its dose. Speaking about the dosage, it cannot be changed by an individual and must be recalculated by a medical professional in case any significant changes are made in one’s diet or lifestyle. Thank you for reading the article, and stay tuned for more interesting information in our blog!