Toujeo vs. Novolin N for Diabetes Type 2: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Key takeaways

Toujeo (insulin glargine) and Novolin N (insulin NPH) are both insulins used to manage diabetes, but they have some key differences. Toujeo is a long-acting insulin that lasts up to 36 hours and is typically injected once a day. It's available only by prescription and comes in prefilled pens. On the other hand, Novolin N is an intermediate-acting insulin that lasts up to 24 hours and can be injected once or twice a day. Novolin N can be purchased over the counter without a prescription and is available in both vials and prefilled pens. While Toujeo is more concentrated and better suited for those needing high doses of insulin, Novolin N can be mixed with regular insulin in the same syringe. Both medications can cause low blood sugar and weight gain, but they differ in their onset and duration of action.

Toujeo

(insulin glargine)

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Novolin N

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Summary for Toujeo

Prescription only

Toujeo SoloStar and Toujeo Max SoloStar are a pair of brand names for insulin glargine. It's a long-acting insulin that's used for diabetes in adults and children. This medication is a more concentrated version of insulin glargine containing 300 units/mL. Toujeo (insulin glargine) comes as prefilled pens. You inject the medication under the skin once daily. Side effects include common cold symptoms and low blood sugar.

Indications for Toujeo

Pros and Cons for Toujeo

Pros

Long-lasting insulin that provides consistent, all-day blood sugar control
Given once a day
Available as a prefilled pen
Good choice for people who need high doses of long-acting insulin
Can use in children as young as 6 years old

Cons

Must inject under the skin
Might be hard for some people to administer correctly
Has a risk of causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Might cause weight gain
Can't mix with other insulins

Common Side Effects for Toujeo

Warnings for Toujeo

Risk of infections with pen sharing
Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Low potassium levels
Swelling and heart failure when used with certain diabetes medications
Allergic reactions

Summary for Novolin N

Prescription or over-the-counter

Novolin N, a brand name of insulin NPH, is an intermediate-acting insulin. It helps control blood sugar levels in adults and children with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. This type of insulin comes in a vial (Novolin N) and a pen (Novolin N Flexpen). There's also a Novolin N ReliOn brand name. Novolin N is injected under the skin once or twice daily to regulate blood sugar levels. Side effects include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and reactions at the injection site.

Indications for Novolin N

Type 1 diabetes in adults and children
Type 2 diabetes in adults

Pros and Cons for Novolin N

Pros

Available over the counter without a prescription
Can help manage both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Available as a pen and vial
Pens are small enough to fit in your purse or pocket

Cons

Might need to inject twice daily
Must give as an injection under the skin
Risk of low blood sugar and weight gain
Only available as a brand-name medication

Common Side Effects for Novolin N

Low blood sugar
Reactions where the medication is injected (e.g., redness, swelling, itching)

Warnings for Novolin N

Risk of infections from sharing injection supplies
Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
Dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
Low blood potassium levels
Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain diabetes medications