Novolin
® N (NPH
insulin) is an intermediate-acting insulin used to treat
diabetes. It starts working more slowly, has a lower peak, and lasts longer than
regular insulin. Novolin N is also known as NPH insulin. NPH stands for Neutral Protamine Hagedorn, so named because it has a neutral pH, contains protamine, and was invented by a scientist named Hans Christian Hagedorn.
Novolin N is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
Novolin N contains insulin that is identical to human insulin combined with additives that help the insulin work longer than plain insulin. Insulin 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.
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.
