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Asked To Switch From Human Mixtard To Novomix. Is It Safe?
Question: doctor has adviced my father to switch from human mixtard 50-50 to novomix 50. Is novomix safe compared to human mixtard. some sites asks us to be careful when taking novomix in case we have a kidney issue. What are the sideefffects of novomix compared to human mixtard that we are using
Hi XXXXXXX.
Thank you for the query.
The injection Human mixtard contains 50% soluble insulin which starts its action in about 30 minutes and 50% of NPH insulin which starts its action after about 150 minutes.
The inj Novomix 50 contains 50% insulin which acts within 5 to 10 minutes and the rest 50% is NPH.
Now the injection Novomix takes care of the post-meal sugar very nicely as it starts acting quickly and its action also peaks very fast. Thus it covers the post meal sugar surge coming from food very effectively.
The injection Mixtard needs one to wait for minimum 30 minutes after the injection prick, before eating and also needs one to split meals into one major meal and one small snack followed after about 3 hours.
There are no different or special side effects of inj Novomix and it does not cause any kidney disease nor it is contraindicated in a person with kidney disease. The NPH part of the injection can be a problem in patient with kidney disease as it has potential to reduce blood sugars beyond given time. This happens as kidneys cannot metabolise that longer acting insulin fully and hence the insulin keeps on acting on body cells and can create low sugar or hypoglycemia.
Hence a person with Kidney disease should be given three small small shots of injection Novorapid only for each major meal and if necessary one small shot of inj NPH separately in the night. This is safest and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia in the patient.
I hope you got the answer. Please get back for further clarification.
Take care.
Thank you for the query.
The injection Human mixtard contains 50% soluble insulin which starts its action in about 30 minutes and 50% of NPH insulin which starts its action after about 150 minutes.
The inj Novomix 50 contains 50% insulin which acts within 5 to 10 minutes and the rest 50% is NPH.
Now the injection Novomix takes care of the post-meal sugar very nicely as it starts acting quickly and its action also peaks very fast. Thus it covers the post meal sugar surge coming from food very effectively.
The injection Mixtard needs one to wait for minimum 30 minutes after the injection prick, before eating and also needs one to split meals into one major meal and one small snack followed after about 3 hours.
There are no different or special side effects of inj Novomix and it does not cause any kidney disease nor it is contraindicated in a person with kidney disease. The NPH part of the injection can be a problem in patient with kidney disease as it has potential to reduce blood sugars beyond given time. This happens as kidneys cannot metabolise that longer acting insulin fully and hence the insulin keeps on acting on body cells and can create low sugar or hypoglycemia.
Hence a person with Kidney disease should be given three small small shots of injection Novorapid only for each major meal and if necessary one small shot of inj NPH separately in the night. This is safest and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia in the patient.
I hope you got the answer. Please get back for further clarification.
Take care.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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