Can I Take Humulin 70/30 During Pregnancy?
Humulin
® 70/30 (NPH
insulin/
regular insulin) is a non-prescription
diabetes medication that contains two different
types of insulin. As with many types of insulin,
Humulin 70/30 is generally considered to be safe for pregnant women. It has been around long enough for healthcare providers to have plenty of experience with the use of this medication during pregnancy.
The U.
S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been adequately studied in pregnant humans but do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.
Although it was originally thought that insulin molecules are too large to cross the placenta, it is now known that some insulins, in some circumstances, may cross the placenta. In general, most healthcare providers consider Humulin 70/30 to be safe for use during pregnancy. It is very important for
pregnant women with diabetes (including
gestational diabetes) to control their blood sugar, and Humulin 70/30 can be useful to help keep blood sugar under control.
The most significant risk to a pregnant woman (or to anyone, for that matter) due to the use of insulin is dangerously low blood sugar. Be sure to check your blood sugar often, and be sure you know exactly what to do if you experience low blood sugar.
