August 4, 2003
Blood Tests and Insulin Injections
Question from Ohio, USA:
My daughter, who has had type�1 diabetes since the age of two and a half, is very active in multiple forms of dance and sports and currently uses Humalog with NPH. She would like to have more flexibility when eating as she needs to eat through out soccer games, etc., to compensate for NPH so she is being switched to Lantus with Humalog. With the increase in Humalog injections we want to find a pen that would assist with dosing for baby sitters, etc., but have found that the only pen with one-half unit increment is for NovoLog.
We considered switching to NovoLog but are reluctant to switch more than one insulin at a time and do not want to lose the control she has now (A1c:5.8-6.9%). Are there any pens that would accommodate half unit measurements and use Humalog? Is there much difference between Humalog and NovoLog?
Answer:
For now, Humalog is available in 1.5 ml cartridges that work with the B-D Pen Mini, which offers half-unit dosing granularity. Note that the B-D Pen Mini is no longer being manufactured, but many are still available. If you decide to switch to NovoLog, the NovoPen Junior can dose in half-units after an initial whole unit. The NovoPen Junior uses 3 ml Novo insulin cartridges. The insulin industry seems to me moving to 3 ml cartridges and away from the 1.5 ml cartridges.
JSH
[Editor’s comment: While one small study showed no difference between the pharmokinetics of Humalog and NovoLog, there are always individual differences. The only way to see if it would work for your daughter would be to try it. Talk to your daughter’s diabetes doctor about possibly switching.
SS]
