Last week, my Endocrinologist provided a sample of Novolog so I could compare results to Humalog. I tried Novolog twenty years ago when it was the chosen (read less cost) fast acting insulin provided by my medical insurance plan. It’s the same situation now. Anyway, in 1999 I was on MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) therapy. That meant injecting fast acting before meals and longer acting NPH at bedtime. I remember having more elevated post prandial (after meals) blood sugars on Novolog compared to Humalog. So I remained on Humalog at additional cost back then.
I decided to give Novolog another try as my diet has changed and I’m on pump therapy. The articles I read indicated that there should be little, if any, difference in the timing and duration (they said Novolog might be a smidge faster).
Well … it’s been six days on Novolog through my pump and the results have been similar (even better) than Humalog. Initially I felt (subjectively) a bit different. Call me crazy, but my lips didn’t seem as moist. And in this very small sample size (six days) my morning #s were consistently in range and my post prandial numbers less elevated.
With Novolog working well, I asked my endocrinologist to write a script and send to the insurance company. This should result in a $25 co-pay for a 90 day supply (6 vials). Those same six vials in the US are over $1,000 (even with insurance) and $275 from Canada.
Next step is for Connor to try the Novolog and see if it works for him. (He is 24 and still on our medical insurance.)