Novolin ge 30/70 Vial

What are Novolin ge 30/70 Vials?

Novolin ge 30/70 vials are 10 mL vials full of a mixture of 30% Regular human insulin and 70% NPH, human insulin isophane suspension for use with a syringe.

Regular insulin, also known as soluble or neutral insulin, is short-acting insulin with an onset of about 30 minutes and a duration of up to 8 hours. NPH insulin, also known as isophane insulin, is a type of intermediate–acting insulin with an onset of about 90 minutes lasting up to 24 hours.

Both types of insulin are man-made and are very similar to naturally occurring insulin. They both are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus because they have similar effects to naturally occurring insulin in their ability to reduce the level of sugar in the blood and urine.

What is Novolin GE 30/70 Vials used for?

Novolin ge 30/70 is used for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus who require insulin for the control high blood sugar. The combination of a fast- and intermediate-acting insulin is used for full day insulin control of your blood sugar levels.

How does it work?

Novolin ge 30/70 works the same way naturally occurring human insulin does. In people who have diabetes, some don’t make enough of their own insulin and others cannot use the insulin their body makes properly. Normally insulin is produced by the pancreas, which is a large organ near the stomach. Insulin is important in metabolism, as it controls the breakdown of food, such as fats, proteins and sugars. It promotes the absorption of sugar from out of your blood into fat, liver and skeletal muscle cells, and also blocks your liver’s ability to produce and release sugar back into your blood. Without insulin, the sugar is trapped in your bloodstream and cannot enter the cells of your body to be used for energy.

Novolin ge 30/70 is a mixture of Regular insulin (30%) and NPH or insulin isophane (70%). Regular insulin also known as neutral or soluble insulin, is a type of fast-acting insulin that is structurally identical to naturally occurring human insulin. It has a typical onset of about 30 minutes and a duration of action up to 8 hours. NPH insulin is an intermediate–acting insulin that is made from Regular insulin mixed with protamines, which are small proteins that help to slow down its onset and to increase its duration of action. The typical onset of effects is usually within 90 minutes and can last up to 24 hours.

When coupled together, Regular and NPH insulin add superior blood sugar level protection by combining the rapid effects of Regular insulin with the extended release of insulin of NPH insulin. Together they can help you can better match your insulin levels to simulate the action of naturally occurring insulin activity. This prevents the fluctuations in blood sugar levels seen with other man-made insulin alone, thereby reducing the effects of your diabetes symptoms all day with one dose.

Side effects

Common side effects may include:

• Hypoglycemia
• Serious allergic reaction
• Local allergic reaction
• Lipodystrophy
• Swelling of your hands and feet
• Heart Failure
• Vision changes
• Hypokalemia

Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

• Sweating
• Excessive hunger
• Troubles with concentration
• Tingling of tongue and lips
• Dizziness
• Fast heart beat
• Blurred vision
• Slurring speech
• Irritability, anxiety or changes in mood
• Headache

You may be experiencing a serious allergic reaction, otherwise known as a whole body reaction if you have trouble breathing, get a rash over your whole body or have a fast heartbeat. Get help immediately if you have any of these side-effects.

Injection site reactions may include swelling, itching and redness at the injection site. If you continue having skin irritations or they become worse contact your doctor. Another injection site reaction that can occur is called lipodystrophy which is the appearance of thicker skin or pits at the injection site. Changing your injection site can help prevent these skin reactions from occurring. Do not inject insulin into skin that is swollen, red or itchy.

Hypokalemia is the appearance of low potassium levels in your blood. Symptoms of which may include feeling weakness, tired, leg cramps and constipation.

How to take this medication

Novolin ge 30/70 is a milky or cloudy suspension of insulin with protamine and zinc added. The insulin substance, which is the cloudy material, can settle at the bottom of the vial, therefore it must be rotated up and down so that the contents are uniformly mixed before you give yourself a dose. The vials come in 10 mL quantities and a for the use with a syringe.

Dosage

Dosages are personalized based on your personal metabolic needs, blood sugar monitoring, blood sugar control, type of diabetes you have and your history of treatment and use of insulin. Make sure to closely monitor your blood sugar levels if you are switching to Novolin ge 30/70 during the initial weeks thereafter.

Your doctor should have discussed with you the type, strength and amount of insulin you should use and the time(s) at which you should inject it, and also discussed with you a healthy diet and regular exercise schedule.

Whenever you use Novolin ge 30/70, be sure to eat a meal within 45 minutes. Never use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Warnings and Precautions

Do not take this insulin if:

• Your have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• You are allergic to anything in Novolin ge 30/70

Let your doctor know:

• About all of your medical conditions
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• About all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements

Taking a class of diabetes medications called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) along with Novolin ge 30/70 has the potential to cause heart failure. This can even happen if you have never had heart issues before and if you have it may get worse. Let you doctor know if you have any new or worsening symptoms of heart failure which may include:

• Sudden weight gain
• Swelling of your feet or ankles
• Shortness of breath