Novolin
® 70/30 (NPH
insulin/
regular insulin) is a non-prescription insulin medication used to treat
diabetes. It contains a mixture of two different
types of insulin: NPH insulin (
Novolin N, an intermediate-acting insulin) and regular insulin (
Novolin R, a short-acting insulin). Because it combines two types of insulin in one injection, using Novolin 70/30 can decrease the number of injections needed per day.
Novolin 70/30 is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
Insulin is actually a hormone that is naturally produced by the
pancreas. This hormone is important for several functions, such as controlling blood sugar. Insulin helps the cells of your body remove glucose ("sugar") from your bloodstream. This sugar fuels your body's cells, giving them the energy they need to work properly. You may need to take insulin if your pancreas has trouble making enough, which is the case for people with
type 1 diabetes and for some people who have
type 2 diabetes.
Over the years, numerous different types of insulins have been developed to try to mimic the actions of the pancreas. As mentioned, Novolin 70/30 contains an intermediate-acting insulin (NPH insulin) and one that is short-acting (regular insulin). It starts working quickly and continues to work for several hours.