Key takeaways
Insulin aspart (NovoLog) and insulin glulisine (Apidra) are both rapid-acting insulins used to control blood sugar in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. NovoLog can be used in children as young as 2 years old, while Apidra is approved for children 4 years and older. NovoLog is typically injected 5 to 10 minutes before a meal, whereas Apidra can be injected within 15 minutes before or 20 minutes after starting a meal. Both medications are available in vials and prefilled pens, but Apidra can also be mixed with NPH insulin, which NovoLog cannot. Common side effects for both include low blood sugar and weight gain, but NovoLog has a higher reported rate of low blood sugar in type 1 diabetes (17%) compared to Apidra (7%). Both insulins need to be injected multiple times a day and come with similar storage requirements.
