Uses of Novolin R: An Overview
Novolin
® R (
regular insulin) is a form of
insulin used to help control blood sugar levels in people with
diabetes. This medication is short-acting and is used to control the rise in blood sugar due to meals.
There are a few different ways to use
Novolin R. In order to mimic the natural insulin changes that help keep blood sugar safely controlled, many healthcare providers recommend "basal-bolus" insulin regimens. These regimens often involve a long-acting or intermediate-acting insulin to provide a basal insulin level (a relatively steady background level of insulin throughout the day). A short-acting insulin (such as Novolin R) or a rapid-acting insulin is added to provide the bolus (a quick, fast-acting, short-lived dose of insulin) to handle the sudden rise in blood sugar levels that follows each meal.
Although most people take Novolin R as an injection just under the skin, regular insulin (such as Novolin R) is the only type of insulin that can also be given intravenously (by IV).
Using Novolin R Without a Prescription
You might be surprised to learn that many insulin medications are available over the counter (without a prescription).
Regular human insulin (such as Novolin R), NPH insulin (such as
Novolin N), and mixtures of the two types do not require a prescription, even though they are stored "behind the counter" in the pharmacy (as they must be refrigerated). Newer forms of insulin require a prescription. If you would like your insurance (or Medicaid or Medicare Part D) to cover Novolin R, you will need a prescription from your healthcare provider.
Even though you don't need a prescription for Novolin R, it is very important that you use it only under your healthcare provider's supervision. Insulin is a potent and potentially dangerous drug. Taking too much can easily result in death
(see Novolin R Overdose). You should not take Novolin R if you do not have diabetes, as this can be extremely dangerous. People without diabetes sometimes abuse insulin (often in combination with steroids) in an attempt to enhance athletic performance.
