Uses of Novolin N: An Overview
Novolin
® N (NPH
insulin) is a form of human insulin used to help control blood sugar in people with
diabetes. It is classified as an intermediate-acting insulin and is used to control blood throughout the day. As an intermediate-acting insulin, it starts working more slowly, produces a lower peak, and lasts longer than regular human insulin.
In healthy people without diabetes, insulin levels fluctuate throughout the day in response to changes in blood sugar levels. In order to mimic the natural insulin changes that help keep blood sugar safely controlled, many healthcare providers recommend "basal-bolus" insulin regimens. These regimens often involve a long- or intermediate-acting insulin such as
Novolin N to provide a basal insulin level (a relatively steady background level of insulin throughout the day). A rapid- or short-acting insulin is added to provide "bolus" doses to control the spike in blood sugar that occurs after meals.
Some people (especially those with
type 2 diabetes) may be able to take Novolin N without adding a rapid- or short-acting insulin.
Novolin N is a form of insulin, which is a hormone that is naturally produced by the
pancreas. This hormone is important for several functions, such as controlling blood sugar. Insulin helps the cells of your body remove glucose ("sugar") from your bloodstream. This sugar fuels your body's cells, giving them the energy they need to work properly. You may need to take insulin if your pancreas has trouble making enough insulin, which is the case in people with
type 1 diabetes and in some people who have type 2 diabetes.
Normally, your body is able to maintain proper levels of sugar in your blood and inside your cells. However, in people with type 1 diabetes (and sometimes type 2 diabetes), the pancreas has trouble making insulin. This causes too much sugar to accumulate in the blood. Too much sugar can also accumulate in the blood if your body has trouble responding to normal levels of insulin, as is common in type 2 diabetes. Over time, high levels of sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems in the eyes, feet, hands, kidneys, and heart.
Novolin N is an intermediate-acting insulin medication. This means that it starts working more quickly than some insulins but more slowly than others, and that it lasts longer than some insulins but shorter than others. In some people, Novolin N may last as long as 24 hours. Novolin N is often combined with a rapid-acting or short-acting insulin that can help control the blood sugar spike that occurs just after meals.
