From the Guidelines
Novolin N and Humulin N are not directly interchangeable without medical supervision, although they are both intermediate-acting NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulin products. While they contain the same type of insulin and have similar onset, peak, and duration of action, there may be subtle differences in how individual patients respond to each formulation 1. If you need to switch between these insulins, you should consult your healthcare provider first, as they may need to adjust your dosage or monitoring schedule. The switch should be done under medical supervision to ensure blood glucose levels remain controlled. Both insulins typically begin working within 1-2 hours, peak in 4-12 hours, and last approximately 12-18 hours. Even though they're similar, changing insulin products without guidance could potentially lead to unexpected blood sugar fluctuations, which could be dangerous, especially for patients who require precise insulin management. Some key considerations when switching between insulin products include:
- Inspecting the bottle before each use for changes that may signify a loss in potency 1
- Not mixing insulin with other medications or diluents unless approved by the prescribing physician 1
- Using commercially available pre-mixed insulins if the insulin ratio is appropriate to the patient’s insulin requirements 1
- Avoiding mixing of short-acting and lente insulins except for patients already adequately controlled on such a mixture 1 It's essential to follow the guidelines for mixing insulins and to consult the manufacturer's recommendations if there are any conflicts with the American Diabetes Association guidelines 1.
From the Research
Insulin Interchangeability
- Novolin N and Humulin N are both NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulins, which are intermediate-acting insulins 2, 3.
- The provided studies do not directly compare Novolin N and Humulin N, but they do discuss the characteristics and effects of NPH insulin in general 2, 3, 4.
- NPH insulin is often compared to other types of insulin, such as insulin glargine, in terms of its effects on blood glucose levels and glucose variability 3, 4.
Glucose Variability and Control
- Studies have shown that switching from NPH insulin to insulin glargine can result in lower fasting blood glucose levels and reduced glucose variability 3, 4.
- However, the provided studies do not specifically address the interchangeability of Novolin N and Humulin N in terms of their effects on glucose control 2, 3, 5, 4, 6.
- The characteristics of insulin dosing behavior and glycaemic excursions can be analyzed using connected insulin pens and continuous glucose monitoring, but this does not directly relate to the interchangeability of specific insulin products 6.
Insulin Titration and Dosing
- The studies discuss various insulin titration strategies and their effects on glycemic control, but do not provide direct evidence on the interchangeability of Novolin N and Humulin N 3, 5, 4.
- Insulin dosing behavior and glycaemic excursions can be characterized using metrics derived from connected insulin pen and continuous glucose monitoring data, but this does not address the specific question of interchangeability 6.