NovoLog Mix 50/50 Uses

What Is NovoLog Mix 50/50 Used For?

 NovoLog^® Mix 50/50 (insulin aspart protamine/insulin aspart) is a form of insulin used to help control blood sugar in people with diabetes. This medication combines two different types of insulins: an intermediate-acting insulin (insulin aspart protamine) and a rapid-acting insulin (insulin aspart). Using a combination insulin product (such as NovoLog Mix 50/50) can help reduce the number of insulin injections per day.

 

Generally, the need for insulin is usually associated with type 1 diabetes (sometimes known as juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes). Although type 1 diabetes usually begins in childhood or adolescence, this is not always the case. With this type of diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin. This means that people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin on a regular basis to help keep their blood sugar at the right level.

 

Type 2 diabetes is sometimes called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. However, these other names are generally not used anymore, since many people with type 2 diabetes need to take insulin and since children and adolescents can develop this type of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is common, much more common than type 1 diabetes. The cause of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood, although it is known that obesity and genetics play important roles.

 

The problem with type 2 diabetes is that the cells of the body do not respond to insulin as well as they normally should. As a result, the cells do not remove sugar (glucose) from the blood very well, resulting in high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Therefore, people with type 2 diabetes need much more insulin than is normal to control their blood sugar. The pancreas cannot keep up with such a high demand and eventually starts to fail.

 

Over time, high blood sugar levels (whether from type 1 or type 2 diabetes) can lead to a number of problems, including diabetic impotence, diabetic neuropathy, kidney failure, and heart disease (see Diabetes Complications). Eventually, the pancreas may also become damaged from having to produce so much insulin over a long time. People with damage to the pancreas may need to take insulin, as the pancreas can no longer produce enough of it.

 

A balanced treatment plan for type 2 diabetes should include a diet and exercise plan (see Diabetic Diet and Diabetes and Exercise). Talk to your healthcare provider about any dietary or exercise changes you should make.