Humulin 70/30
Humulin 70/30 is a mixture of two types of insulin: 70% insulin NPH (also known as "isophane insulin") and 30% insulin regular. It's used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Humulin 70/30 comes as a vial and a prefilled pen (called the KwikPen). The insulin is injected under the skin 30 to 45 minutes before a meal. Humulin 70/30 can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and reactions at the injection site as side effects. This medication is available by prescription or over the counter.
What is Humulin 70/30?
What is Humulin 70/30 used for?
Type 1 diabetes in adults
Type 2 diabetes in adults
How Humulin 70/30 works
Humulin 70/30 contains two types of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that your body normally makes to control blood sugar levels in a few ways. It helps your body absorb and store sugar from the bloodstream after a meal. Insulin also stops your liver from making glucose (sugar).
People with diabetes either can't make insulin, don't make enough insulin, or don't respond to insulin as they should. So to help control their blood sugar levels, they sometimes need insulin from an outside source, like from Humulin 70/30.
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What are the side effects of Humulin 70/30?
Common Side Effects
- Low blood sugar
- Reactions where the medication is injected (e.g., redness, swelling, itching)
Other Side Effects
- Fat deposits under the skin or pitting of the skin where the medication is injected
- Weight gain
- Swelling (e.g., in the legs, ankles, or feet)
Serious Side Effects
- Severely low blood sugar: dizziness, shakiness, feeling confused, feeling irritable or anxious, feeling faint, sweating, extreme hunger, can't think clearly
- Dangerously low potassium levels: weakness, muscle cramps or twitches, constipation, abnormal heartbeat, tiredness, trouble breathing
- Severe allergic reaction: rash; hives; swelling of the face, tongue, and throat; trouble breathing
Source: DailyMed
More on Humulin 70/30 side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)—tremors or shaking, anxiety, sweating, cold or clammy skin, confusion, dizziness, rapid heartbeat
- Low potassium level—muscle pain or cramps, unusual weakness or fatigue, fast or irregular heartbeat, constipation
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Lipodystrophy—hardening or scarring of tissue at injection site
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Weight gain
Pros and cons of Humulin 70/30
Pros
Combines two types of insulin within a single product
Manages blood sugar from meals and throughout the day
Available over the counter as a prefilled pen and vial of insulin
Pens are small enough to fit in your purse or pocket
Cons
Can't customize the dose of each type of insulin in Humulin 70/30
Must be comfortable giving yourself injections under the skin
Can cause low blood sugar and weight gain
Only available as a brand-name medication
Pharmacist tips for Humulin 70/30
Inject Humulin 70/30 under the skin 30 to 45 minutes before a meal. Try to eat at regular times and avoid skipping meals. Changes in eating patterns can affect how much the insulin lowers your blood sugar. For example, injecting insulin when you haven't eaten enough food can put you at risk for dangerously low blood sugar. Ask your diabetes specialist about what to do if you accidentally skip a meal.
Ask your diabetes specialist about when you should check your blood sugar during the day. Jot down your blood sugar readings and share them with your care team at your office visits. This helps keep track of how well Humulin 70/30 is working for you and check whether you need any dose adjustments.
Make sure you and your family members know how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. Watch out for symptoms like shakiness, anxiety, and hunger. Keep fast-acting sugar, such as glucose tablets, with you at all times so you can take it if your blood sugar level drops too low. Follow the "15-15 rule" to treat low blood sugar levels (below 70 mg/dL).
Place unopened vials and pens in the refrigerator until the expiration date written on the product. You can also keep them at room temperature for up to 10 days (for pens) or up to 31 days (for vials).
Keep opened pens at room temperature for up to 10 days (don't put opened pens back in the refrigerator). Put opened vials in a safe place at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 31 days.
Tips on how to use Humulin 70/30:
It's important that you know how to use Humulin 70/30 properly and safely. This helps avoid accidentally hurting yourself or wasting medication. Carefully review the instructions for use for the Humulin 70/30 vial or Humulin 70/30 KwikPen. Ask your care team for specific directions and for any questions you have.
Never mix Humulin 70/30 with other insulins or other medications within the same syringe.
How to mix the insulin in the Humulin 70/30 vial: Roll the vial gently at least 10 times in your hands and slowly turn the vial upside down at least 10 times. After mixing, the liquid in the vial should be uniform, white, and cloudy. Don't shake the vial too much because bubbles can form, which can lead you to draw up the wrong amount of medication into the syringe and take the wrong dose.
How to mix the insulin in the Humulin 70/30 KwikPen: Slowly roll the pen between your hands 10 times. Then, move the pen up and down 10 times. The insulin should look white and cloudy after you mix it.
How to prime the Humulin 70/30 KwikPen: Prime the pen each time before you use it to make sure you get the right amount of insulin when you inject. Turn the dose knob to "2 units." Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap it to get air bubbles to the top. Keep the needle pointing up and press and hold in the knob. You should see a small amount of insulin at the needle tip.
Where to inject Humulin 70/30: Inject the insulin under the skin in the stomach area, upper legs (thighs), buttocks, or upper arms. For each injection, pick a different place within the area that you choose. This helps prevent hard lumps from forming in the skin, pitted skin, and irritated skin.
After you inject Humulin 70/30, throw the used needle or syringe away in a sharps container or a heavy-duty plastic container (e.g., empty milk carton, laundry detergent bottle). This helps lower the risk of needle-stick injuries. Don't throw away injection supplies into the regular trash.
Frequently asked questions about Humulin 70/30
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What are the risks and warnings for Humulin 70/30?
Humulin 70/30 can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk of infections from sharing injection supplies
Never share Humulin 70/30 pens, any syringes, or any needles with anyone else. Sharing Humulin 70/30 and other injection supplies with someone can raise the risk of spreading very dangerous infections to each other.
Risk of changes to blood sugar levels with changes to your insulin regimen
Risk factors: Changes in insulin strength | Changes in type of insulins you take | Change in insulin brand-name products | Changes in injection site
Changing your insulin or insulin routine, such as where you inject Humulin 70/30 or switching to a different brand name of your insulins, can affect how your body responds to insulin. This can lead to either high or low blood sugar levels. In addition, injecting Humulin 70/30 repeatedly into areas of skin that show signs of lipodystrophy, such as pitting or thickened skin, can result in high blood sugar levels.
Be sure to check your blood sugar levels more often if your diabetes care team instructs you to make certain changes to your insulin or insulin routine. This helps you see how the changes affect your blood sugar levels. Don't make changes to your Humulin 70/30 dose or routine without first checking in with your diabetes care team.
Dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
Risk factors: Changes in diet and exercise | Drinking alcohol | Taking other diabetes medications with Humulin 70/30 | Liver or kidney problems
Humulin 70/30 can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar level is too low, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening, especially if it's not treated in time. Check your blood sugar level regularly to make sure it's within a safe range.
Check that you're taking the correct insulin at the right time by reading the label of the insulins you have if you're prescribed multiple types of insulins. This helps prevent accidental mix-ups between your insulin products and possible low blood sugar.
Let your diabetes care team know if you make any changes to your diet or meal patterns, other medications, or amount of exercise you do. These changes can affect your blood sugar levels, so your care team might need to adjust the dose of Humulin 70/30 and your other diabetes medications.
Be familiar with symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as feeling shaky, being nervous or anxious, sweating, having body chills, and being very hungry. Keep fast-acting sugars, such as glucose tablets, with you at all times so you can treat hypoglycemia quickly. Get medical help right away if your blood sugar levels don't improve even after you try to treat it.
Low blood potassium levels
Risk factors: Taking other medications that lower potassium levels
Humulin 70/30 can lower the levels of potassium in your blood, which can sometimes be dangerous. You're more at risk if you're already taking medications that lower your potassium, like certain diuretics (water pills). If needed, your prescriber might check your potassium levels regularly and give you medications to keep your potassium in the normal range. Tell your prescriber if you have symptoms of low potassium, such as weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, or abnormal heartbeats, while you're taking Humulin 70/30.
Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain diabetes medications
Risk factors: Taking glitazones together with insulin | History of heart failure
Taking insulin, including Humulin 70/30, with medications called glitazones (also known as thiazolidinediones), like pioglitazone (Actos), can cause your body to hold onto fluid. This can lead to or worsen heart failure because the additional fluid can put stress on the heart. Let your prescriber know if you notice symptoms of fluid buildup or heart failure, such as sudden weight gain, swelling, trouble breathing, and tiredness. Your prescriber might need to make changes to your diabetes treatment.
Humulin 70/30 dosage forms
Typical dosing for Humulin 70/30
Your diabetes care team will determine your dose of Humulin 70/30 based on different factors, such as your blood sugar levels and your body weight.
In general, Humulin 70/30 is injected under the skin 30 to 45 minutes before a meal. It's injected into the fatty tissue of the stomach, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks.
How much does Humulin 70/30 cost?
Humulin 70/30 contraindications
Use during episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
What are alternatives to Humulin 70/30?
Type 1 diabetes in adults
Type 2 diabetes in adults
Type 1 diabetes in adults and children
Type 2 diabetes in adults
What is the latest news about Humulin 70/30?
Humulin 70/30 images
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References
Best studies we foundAmerican Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Insulin basics.
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Brutsaert, E. F. (2023). Medication treatment of diabetes mellitus. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Types of insulin.
Chelliah, A., et al. (2004). Insulin edema in the twenty-first century: Review of the existing literature. Journal of Investigative Medicine.
Clinical Diabetes. (2012). Hypoglycemia? Low blood glucose? Low blood sugar?
Eli Lilly and Company. (2022). Instructions for use: Humulin® (HU-mu-lin) 70/30 (insulin isophane human and insulin human) injectable suspension, for subcutaneous use 3 mL or 10 mL multiple-dose vial (100 units/mL).
Eli Lilly and Company. (2022). Instructions for use: Humulin® (HU-mu-lin) 70/30 KwikPen® (insulin isophane human and insulin human) injectable suspension, for subcutaneous use 3 mL single-patient-use pen (100 units/mL).
Eli Lilly and Company. (2024). Humulin 70/30- insulin human injection, suspension; Humulin 70/30 Kwikpen- insulin human injection, suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
Kadiyala, P., et al. (2014). Insulin induced lipodystrophy. The British Journal of Diabetes.
Lewis, J. L., 3rd. (2023). Hypokalemia (low level of potassium in the blood). Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Nemours TeensHealth. (2016). What is hypoglycemia?
Russell-Jones, D., et al. (2007). Insulin-associated weight gain in diabetes--causes, effects and coping strategies. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism.
Saleem, F., et al. (2023). NPH insulin. StatPearls.
Sharabi, K., et al. (2015). Molecular pathophysiology of hepatic glucose production. Molecular Aspects of Medicine.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2017). Information regarding insulin storage and switching between products in an emergency.
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