If you have diabetes, your doctor may suggest NovoLog as a treatment option for you. It’s a type of fast-acting insulin used to manage blood sugar levels in adults and children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

High blood sugar is a condition of diabetes. If not treated, high blood sugar levels can cause problems in other parts of your body, such as your heart, kidneys, and nerves.

NovoLog basics

NovoLog contains the active ingredient insulin aspart. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) NovoLog belongs to a group of medications called fast-acting insulins.

NovoLog is a type of biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms. NovoLog is not available in a biosimilar form. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.)

You can learn more about how it compares to otherinsulins, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions, by reading this.

A solution like NovoLog is typically given as a injection under the skin. It is available in three forms.

  • The FlexPen is a disposable, prefilled pen.
    • The new pen is called the NovoLog FlexPen and it is prefilled.
  • The pen fill is used with a pen.
  • The vogel is used with a pump.

In some cases, your doctor may use the vial form of NovoLog to give the drug as an intravenous (IV) infusion. You may receive NovoLog this way if you’re getting treatment in a hospital.

To use NovoLog insulin pens, you’ll attach a pen needle before each injection. For more information about NovoLog’s forms or the supplies you’ll need, see the drug manufacturer’s website. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

NovoLog and HumaLog are both fast-acting insulins prescribed for people with diabetes. They have similar dosages, side effects, and forms.

To learn more, see this detailed comparison of NovoLog and Humalog. Also, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the treatment option that’s right for you.

Find answers to questions about the company.

How does NovoLog compare vs. Novolin, Fiasp, Basaglar, and insulin lispro?

NovoLog, Novolin, Fiasp, Basaglar, and insulin lispro are all insulins used to treat diabetes.

Both Fiasp and NovoLog are fast-acting. Both contain the drug. Fiasp contains a supplement called niacinamide which is supposed to help it start working faster than NovoLog.

Novolin is considered a regular insulin (also called short-acting insulin), and Basaglar is a type of long-acting insulin (also called basal insulin).

“A long-actinginsulin may be prescribed by your doctor. Basaglar is an example of a long-actinginsulin. They won’t prescribe another fast-actinginsulin with NovoLog.”

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how these medications are different.

What type of insulin is NovoLog? Is it a long-acting or fast-acting insulin?

NovoLog is a type of fast-acting insulin. Fast-acting insulins are used before a meal to manage blood sugar after you eat.

To learn more about the different types of insulin, check out this article. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is NovoLog the same as Humalog?

NovoLog isn’t the same as Humalog, but the drugs have some similarities. To learn more, see the “What should I know about NovoLog vs. HumaLog?” section above.

What’s the peak time for NovoLog?

Novolog has a peak effect about 3 hours after injection. This time can vary from person to person.

If you have questions about when the peak effect of NovoLog will be, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Novolog need to be refrigerated? When does the drug expire after it’s been opened?

“Novolog can be kept at room temperature before being opened. The drug’s storage affects how long it lasts.”

  • Novolog can be kept at room temperature for up to 28 days.
  • “Novolog is good until the box’s date of expiration.”

Once you’ve opened a NovoLog pen, keep it at room temperature (up to 86o F or 30o C). You shouldn’t put it back in the refrigerator. Be sure to use NovoLog within 28 days of opening it.

If you use the NovoLog method, these can either be stored at room temperature or refrigerated after opening.

If you have questions about how to store NovoLog, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

How does NovoLog work? And what’s its half-life?

The mechanism of action of NovoLog is to mimic the job of naturalinsulin, a hormone that is meant to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

“If you have diabetes, your body can’t use it properly. Your body is told to move sugar out of your blood and into your cells by NovoLog. This lowers your blood sugar.”

“The amount of time it takes for your body to get rid of half a dose is called the drug’s half-life. The half-life of the company is 81 minutes. The drug effects can last up to 5 hours. After your last dose, your system can stay in for up to 7 hours.”

Most drugs cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common side effects of NovoLog are described in the lists below. All possible side effects are not included in these lists.

Your risk of side effects from a drug can depend on a number of factors.

  • Your age.
  • You have other health conditions.
  • You take other drugs.

The doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the side effects of NovoLog. They can suggest ways to reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that NovoLog can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read NovoLog’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of NovoLog have been reported.

The side effect focus section gives more information about this side effect.

The side effects of many drugs can be gone in a few days. If they become intolerable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from NovoLog are not common. If you have serious side effects, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, you should call the emergency number.

There have been serious side effects of NovoLog.

The side effect focus section gives more information about this side effect.

Side effect focus

Learn about the side effects of NovoLog.

Weight gain

Treatment with NovoLog can cause weight gain in some people. It’s not known how common weight gain was in NovoLog’s studies.

Weight gain is related to how your body works withinsulin.

Excess sugar is removed from your blood with all of theinsulins. Your body uses some of the sugar for energy. Some sugar is stored as fat to be used later. Over time, this can lead to weight gain.

What can help?

If you are concerned about weight gain during your treatment, talk to your doctor.

If you use NovoLog and also take a type of diabetes drug called a thiazolidinedione, you should call your doctor right away if you suddenly gain a lot of weight (such as 5 pounds overnight). Sudden weight gain can be a symptom of heart failure. In rare cases, taking NovoLog and thiazolidinedione drugs together can lead to heart failure.

Low blood sugar

All medications used to treat diabetes can cause low blood sugar. This is the most common side effect of drugs withinsulin. The active drug in the company is called NovoLog. This side effect is mild in most cases.

Mildly hypoglycemic symptoms can include:

  • weakness
  • There is confusion.
  • hunger
  • feeling unwell or jittery.
  • There is a throbbing head.

In rare cases, NovoLog can cause low blood sugar. If you do, you may be at higher risk of severe hypoglycemia.

  • Are you fast?
  • Novolog is a diabetes drug.
  • “Have a problem with the kidneys or the body’s organs.”

Severe hypoglycemic symptoms may include:

Severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency that requires help from another person. If not treated quickly, it can lead to fainting, coma, seizures, or even death. If you have symptoms of severe hypoglycemia, you or someone around you should call 911 or your local emergency number. Or you should go to the nearest emergency room.

If you are concerned about your risk of severe hypoglycemic events, talk to your doctor.

What can help?

Before you start taking NovoLog, you should talk with your doctor about your blood sugar. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to do this.

You should talk to your doctor about what to do if you experience a hypoglycemic event. Mild hypoglycemic can be treated at home using fast-acting gliomas.

  • The tablets contain sugar.
  • 1 part honey to 1 part water.
  • A cup of juice or soda is equal to 12 cup.
  • Hard candy can be three or four pieces.

Your doctor may also prescribe glucagon (GlucaGen) for you, which is a medication used to quickly raise blood sugar levels that are severely low. If your doctor prescribes glucagon for you, they’ll tell you more about the dosage and how it’s used.

Before starting treatment with NovoLog, talk with your doctor about your treatment plan in case you have hypoglycemia. But if you have symptoms of severe hypoglycemia or symptoms that feel life threatening, you or someone around you should call 911 (or your local emergency number). Or go to the closest emergency room.

Injection site reactions

You may have reactions at the injection site after taking a dose of NovoLog. In studies, this was a common side effect in people using NovoLog.

Injection-site reactions may include:

  • It is itchy.
  • skin is discolored
  • It is a pain.
  • swelling

In some cases, NovoLog injections can also cause lipodystrophy (skin dimpling). With this condition, your skin thickens or forms “pits” at the site where you inject NovoLog.

If the drug is injected into the affected skin areas, it may not work as well as it could. If this happens, your blood sugar could be too high or too low.

What can help?

It is recommended that you change injection sites when using NovoLog. This will lower your risk for reactions.

You should avoid injecting it in your skin.

  • It is thick.
  • It can be pitted or has lump.
  • It was bruised.
  • It was hard.
  • It is very large
  • tender
  • It was damaged in any way.

If you have an injection site reaction that is bothering you, talk to your doctor. They may recommend other options.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to NovoLog. It’s not known how often these reactions occurred in studies, but they’re thought to be rare.

A mild allergic reaction can include some symptoms.

A more severe allergic reaction is not uncommon. A severe allergic reaction can cause swelling under your skin, which can be seen in your eyes, lips, hands, and feet. They can include swelling of your mouth, throat, and tongue, which can cause trouble breathing.

If you have an allergic reaction to NovoLog, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, call the emergency number.

There are many factors that affect the prices of prescription drugs. What your insurance plan covers is one of the factors.

Pen and vial costs can vary. The cost with insurance will be dependent on your health insurance plan.

You will need other supplies to use the device, such as pen needles, a pump, and a pen device. The cost of these supplies can vary.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the NovoLog manufacturer’s website to see if they have support options.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of NovoLog that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Forms

Novolog is available in three different forms.

  • The FlexPen is a disposable, prefilled pen.
  • The pen fill is used with a pen.
  • The vogel is used with a pump.

In some cases, your doctor may use the vial form of NovoLog to give the drug as an intravenous (IV) infusion. You may receive NovoLog this way if you’re getting treatment in a hospital.

You will need supplies such as pen needles, a pump, and a pen device to use the program. These supplies can be purchased or sold separately. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information.

Recommended dosage

The recommended dose of NovoLog is to be injected 5 to 10 minutes before eating.

If you have aninsulin pump, talk to your doctor about your dose. They will explain the instructions to you.

There’s no dosage calculator available from NovoLog’s manufacturer, but it does provide these details on how dosages are calculated.

Questions about NovoLog’s dosage

Some questions about the dosage are listed below.

  • What if I miss a dose of NovoLog? Novolog should be taken 5 to 10 minutes before a meal. If you forget until after you start eating, you can take your dose mid-meal. But if you remember after the meal, you should check your blood sugar level to determine if you need a dose of NovoLog. If you aren’t sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. To help make sure you don’t miss a dose, be sure to take NovoLog with you when you’ll be away from home for a meal. You may also want to try a medication reminder such as setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app.
  • Will I need to use NovoLog long term? You’ll likely use NovoLog long term, if you and your doctor agree that it’s safe and working well for you.
  • How long does NovoLog take to work? NovoLog begins working about 5 to 10 minutes after injecting a dose. That’s why you’ll take it 5 to 10 minutes before eating a meal.

“Your doctor will explain how to take the drug. They will explain how much to take and how often. Follow your doctor’s instructions.”

Using NovoLog

Novolog is available in a number of forms.

  • The FlexPen is a disposable, prefilled pen.
  • The pen fill is used with a pen.
  • The vogel is used with a pump.

You’ll give yourself NovoLog as an injection under the skin. For step-by-step instructions on how to use the NovoLog FlexPen, see the drug manufacturer’s website. You can also view the drug’s prescribing information.

In some cases, your doctor may use the vial form of NovoLog to give the drug as an intravenous (IV) infusion. You may receive Novolog through this route of administration if you’re getting treatment in a hospital.

Accessible medication containers and labels

If it’s It was hard. for you to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:

  • Have a large print.
  • Use the visual aids.
  • You can use a code on a phone to change the text into audio.

“If your current pharmacy doesn’t offer these options, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a new pharmacy.”

Using NovoLog with other drugs

You’ll likely use NovoLog with other drugs to treat diabetes. This may include other insulins, such as Novolin (insulin human). It may also include diabetes drugs you take by mouth, such as metformin (Glucophage).

Your doctor will tell you if you use NovoLog with other drugs.

Questions about using NovoLog

Some questions about using a log

  • Should I take NovoLog with food? You’ll give yourself a dose of NovoLog just before eating a meal.
  • Should I still take Novolog if I skip a meal? No. If you skip a meal due to illness or another reason, you should also skip that dose. Remember that Novolog is a mealtime insulin that’s fast-acting. If you inject a dose and do not start eating within 5 to 10 minutes, your blood sugar may become too low.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about your treatment plan. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help you.

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will the changes in the environment affect my life?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment to make you feel more comfortable.
  • “If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it.”

“Your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. They want you to get the best care possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give feedback on your treatment”

NovoLog and Admelog are both fast-acting insulins used in people with diabetes. They have very similar side effects, dosages, and forms.

To learn more about these drugs, check out this side-by-side comparison. You can also talk with your doctor to find out if one of these treatment options is right for you.

NovoLog is used to manage blood sugar levels in adults and children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

High blood sugar is a condition of diabetes. If not treated, high blood sugar can cause problems in other parts of your body, including your eyes, feet, and kidneys.

With type 1 diabetes, cells in your pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. This means your body can’t make its own insulin. Type 1 diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease. This type of diabetes develops very quickly, and its cause is not fully understood.

With type 2 diabetes, your body stops responding to insulin. Eventually, your body may also stop making its own insulin. Type 2 diabetes is believed to be caused by several factors, including genetics, your weight, and your diet.

The sugar in your blood is used to make energy by your cells.

You should use less of the drug than your doctor prescribes. Side effects can be serious if you use more than this.

Symptoms of overdose

There are symptoms caused by an overdose.

  • low blood sugar, which can be severe and can cause There is confusion., dizziness, or fainting
  • low level of potassium, which can cause symptoms such as constipation, muscle cramps, and weakness

What to do in case you take too much NovoLog

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much NovoLog. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Before you start taking a drug, you should have a discussion with your doctor. Your overall health and any medical conditions you may have are included.

You should tell your doctor about all your medications.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking a drug, it is important to tell your doctor about all your drugs. You should also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any possible interactions with the products.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Several types of drugs can be interacted with by NovoLog. These include:

Some drugs that may interact with NovoLog are not on this list. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and other things that may occur with use of NovoLog.

Warnings

If you have a medical condition that affects your health, you may not be a good fit for NovoLog. Before you take a drug, talk to your doctor about your health history. The factors to consider are listed below.

  • Heart failure. If you have heart failure, tell your doctor before you begin treatment with NovoLog. Using NovoLog with certain diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones can worsen heart failure. Your doctor can determine the safest treatment plan for you if you have heart failure.
  • Kidney or liver problems. If you “Have a problem with the kidneys or the body’s organs.”, you may have a higher risk of low blood sugar with NovoLog. Talk with your doctor about whether NovoLog is safe for you to take. If they decide to prescribe NovoLog for you, they may have you take a lower dose. They may also ask you to check your blood sugar levels more often.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to NovoLog or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe NovoLog. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

NovoLog and alcohol

It’s best to avoid or limit alcohol use during your Novolog treatment. Alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels, which could make NovoLog less effective. It can also raise your risk of certain side effects from NovoLog, including low blood sugar, There is a lot of diarrhea., and There is a throbbing head..

If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about the amount that is safe to consume during Novolog treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is not known if it is safe to take a drug while pregnant. It is important to note that diabetes can cause problems during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about the best treatments for your diabetes.

It is not known if it can cause side effects in a child who is breast milk fed. If you are currently breastfeeding or planning to be, you should talk to your doctor.

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may benefit from using NovoLog.

If you want to learn more about using a program to manage your blood sugar, you should talk to your doctor. You can ask them about the risks and benefits of the drug. You can ask a few questions.

  • How often should I check my blood sugar?
  • Will I need to take my other diabetes medications if I use NovoLog?
  • What should I expect when I start treatment?
  • How often will I need to do lab work?

You may be interested in learning more about diabetes medications.

You can also find support and advice from the Bezzy T2Dcommunity, as well as from the Healthline diabetes newsletter.

Q:

Will I need a prescription to use pen needles?

Anonymous

A:

“It depends on where you live. The pen needles that you will use with the FlexPen are not included in the drug. Some states require a prescription for pen needles, while others don’t.”

If your doctor writes a prescription for pen needles, most insurance plans will cover them. This may make the amount you have to pay less.

You can talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the supplies you need to use other forms of NovoLog.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.