What is Novolog: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Follow the dosing schedule provided by the prescriber. You will typically give injections five to 10 minutes before a meal.

A healthcare provider will demonstrate how to administer injections. Make sure you understand all instructions. 

Read and follow the instructions that are included with the medicine.

Do not share your syringes, needles, or injection pens with other people.

A healthcare provider or the instructions that come with the medicine will provide instructions on which body areas to use for injections. Use a different body area for each injection.

Do not inject into skin that is damaged, bruised, thick, lumpy, scaly, hard, or scarred.

How to prepare for an injection

• Wash your hands.

• Always check the insulin type, concentration, expiration date, and appearance of the medicine. The medicine should appear clear and colorless.

• Use only syringes that are made for insulin injections. Use a new syringe for each injection.

• Do not mix NovoLog with any other insulin unless administering injections with a needle and syringe. 

How to administer injections using a needle and syringe

• Administer injections only under the skin (subcutaneously), never into a vein or a muscle.

• Always use a new needle and syringe.

• If you are mixing insulin aspart with another insulin, only mix NovoLog with NPH insulin. If you are mixing them in the same syringe, always draw up NovoLog into the syringe first. Then draw up the NPH insulin.

• The prescriber will give instructions about whether the skin needs to be pinched at the injection site or not. Follow these recommendations.

• Wipe the skin with an alcohol swab and let dry.

• Insert the needle into the skin as instructed and push down the plunger.

• Keep the needle in the skin for at least six seconds to make sure the entire dose is injected.

• Do not recap the needle after giving an injection.

• Dispose of the needle and syringe in a sharps container.

• Dispose of the empty vial in a sharps container.

Using an injection pen:

• People can use the NovoLog FlexPen or insert NovoLog cartridges into compatible injection pens.

• The injection pens must first be primed before the first use. Follow the instructions in the Patient Information sheet or the injection pen’s instructions. 

• Always use a new needle for each injection. Only use a NovoFine, NovoFine Plus, or NovoTwist needle with the FlexPen.

• Turn the dose selector to the prescribed number of units. 

• Wipe the skin with an alcohol swab and let dry.

• Insert the needle into the skin. Make sure the dose counter is visible.

• Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter reaches “0.” It will take six seconds for the dose to be delivered after the dose counter hits “0.”

• Keep the needle in the skin and slowly count to “six (6).”

• Pull the needle out of the skin.

• Carefully remove the needle and dispose of it in a sharps container.

• Never keep the needle attached to a pen when not in use. 

• Replace the cap on the injection pen.

Using an insulin pump 

• Follow all the prescriber’s instructions and recommendations.

• Read and follow all the instructions in the insulin pump’s user manual.

• NovoLog should only be used in a pump meant for insulin aspart. Refer to the insulin pump manual.

• The NovoLog 10 mL vial is used to fill an insulin pump. 

• Do not mix NovoLog with any other insulins.

• Change the insulin solution in the pump reservoir at least every seven days or as instructed in the pump’s user manual, whichever is shorter.

• Change the infusion set and infusion site following the instructions in the pump’s user manual.

• Keep the pump and pump equipment away from heat and direct light. Heat may increase the temperature of the insulin and prevent it from working as it should.

• Throw away any medicine in the pump that is exposed to temperatures higher than 98.6°F.

• Immediately contact the prescriber if the insulin pump breaks or leaks. You may need to give yourself NovoLog injections until the pump is fixed.

Storing NovoLog

• Store unopened vials, cartridges, or injection pens in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. 

• Unopened vials and injection pens can be stored at room temperature for up to 28 days.

• Store used vials in the refrigerator. 

• Store used injection pens at room temperature for up to 28 days. Do not refrigerate.

• Keep all medicine away from heat and direct light. 

• Throw away any medicine that has passed the expiration date.

The prescriber or healthcare team will provide instructions about what to do if a dose of rapid-acting insulin is missed. 

Sometimes the missed dose can be taken. Sometimes it should be skipped. It will depend on the type of diabetes, the time of day, the time until the next meal, and other concerns.

As a general rule, if a dose of rapid-acting insulin is missed before a meal, the dose can usually be taken—but not always—during or right after the meal. The prescriber or healthcare team may give you instructions about how long after a meal the shot can be given, but it shouldn’t be taken more than two hours after eating.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to insulin aspart.

Do not inject NovoLog when blood sugar is low.

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to insulin aspart.

Insulin treatment requires regular checkups with the healthcare team and blood tests to monitor therapy. Keep all appointments.

Tell all doctors and other healthcare providers that you take insulin. 

Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or have kidney disease or liver disease.

Certain changes in lifestyle or health may require insulin doses to change. Tell the prescriber about:

• Illness

• Stress

• Dietary changes

• Weight changes

• Changes in physical activity

Insulin can cause serious adverse effects including low blood sugar and low potassium. You should be familiar with the clinical signs of these problems and know how to respond.

People on insulin are at greater risk of accidental injuries. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Be careful around the house and at work.

To avoid spreading or getting hazardous infections, never share insulin pens or needles with other people.

Do not give injections into thickened skin. Doing so will make the injection less effective at controlling blood sugar and may result in hyperglycemia.

Insulin is a natural hormone and has few drug interactions. However, many drugs raise or lower blood sugar levels and so will cause problems in people taking fixed doses of insulin.

For this reason, make sure the doctor knows about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you use, even if they’re only used occasionally.

Always tell other healthcare providers about insulin therapy before they prescribe new medications.

If a new drug is started, immediately inform your diabetes doctor or healthcare team. New drugs, including over-the-counter drugs, may require that both your NovoLog and basal insulin dose be adjusted.

Thiazolidinediones, a type of Type 2 diabetes drug, increases the risk of fluid retention when taken by people on insulin. This fluid retention could worsen or bring on heart failure.

Do not drink alcohol or use any medications containing alcohol while you are using this medicine.