From the Guidelines
NovoLog (insulin aspart) should be administered subcutaneously 5-10 minutes before meals, with initial dosing ranging from 0.1-0.2 units/kg/day for type 2 diabetes, adjusted based on blood glucose monitoring, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. The dosing regimen for NovoLog (insulin aspart) in diabetes management is individualized based on the patient's blood glucose levels, meal content, and activity level.
Key Considerations
- For adults with type 1 diabetes, NovoLog is usually used as part of a basal-bolus regimen, with approximately 50-70% of total daily insulin given as basal insulin and the remainder as mealtime NovoLog.
- Initial dosing often ranges from 0.2-0.6 units/kg/day total insulin, with NovoLog comprising about 50% of this amount.
- For type 2 diabetes, starting doses may be lower, often 0.1-0.2 units/kg/day, adjusted based on blood glucose monitoring.
- Dose adjustments should be made in small increments (1-2 units) every 3-7 days until target glucose levels are achieved.
- NovoLog can also be used in insulin pumps, requiring replacement every 48-72 hours.
Recent Guidelines
The 2023 guidelines for older adults with diabetes recommend simplification of complex insulin therapy, including the use of basal and prandial insulins, and adjusting doses based on fasting fingerstick glucose test results 1.
Important Factors
- The rapid onset (10-20 minutes) and short duration (3-5 hours) of NovoLog allows for flexible dosing that closely mimics physiological insulin secretion.
- NovoLog helps to control post-meal glucose excursions while reducing hypoglycemia risk compared to regular human insulin.
- Cost considerations are important when selecting an insulin product, particularly due to substantial price increases over the past decade 1.
From the Research
Dosing Regimen for NovoLog (Insulin Aspart)
The dosing regimen for NovoLog (insulin aspart) in diabetes management is as follows:
- Insulin aspart is a short-acting insulin analogue that can be administered immediately before meals to provide better postprandial glycaemic control than regular human insulin administered 30 minutes before meals 2.
- The recommended dosing regimen for insulin aspart is to administer it 0 to 15 minutes before meals, together with one or more daily separate injections of intermediate or long-acting insulin 3.
- The target glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus is recommended to be < 7.5% (< 58 mmol/mol) 3.
- For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin aspart can be used in combination with oral hypoglycaemic agents, and the dosing regimen should be individualized based on the patient's needs and response to treatment 2, 3.
Administration and Titration
- Insulin aspart can be administered via continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or multiple daily injections (MDI) 2, 4.
- The dosing regimen for insulin aspart should be titrated based on the patient's glucose levels, with the goal of achieving optimal glycaemic control while minimizing the risk of hypoglycaemia 3, 5.
- The use of insulin aspart in combination with other antihyperglycaemic agents, such as metformin, can help to improve glycaemic control and reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia 3, 6.
Special Considerations
- Insulin aspart can be used in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, including children, adolescents, and young adults 2, 4.
- The dosing regimen for insulin aspart may need to be adjusted in patients with renal or hepatic impairment, or in those who are pregnant or breastfeeding 3, 6.
- Insulin aspart should be used with caution in patients who are prone to hypoglycaemia, and the dosing regimen should be adjusted accordingly 2, 3.