What is Novolin GE Toronto Pen?

It contains rapid-acting insulin called Biosynthetic Human Insulin made from recombinant DNA synthesis of the S. cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) laboratory strain.

Novolin GE Toronto appears to be a colorless, aqueous, and neutral solution. It is a 3mL cartridge that has 100 units/mL solution for injection and it is also available in 10mL vial. The cartridges are made for use with Novo Nordisk Insulin Delivery Devices, NovoFine, and NovoTwist needles.

What is it used for?

Novolin GE Toronto Pen helps reduce blood glucose levels in adults or pediatric patients who have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Novolin helps prevent blindness, nerve problems, kidney damage, heart attack, and stroke.

How does it work?

Novolin regulates glucose metabolism by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake and enhances amino acid synthesis. It can also inhibit lipolysis, proteolysis, and hepatic glucose synthesis. It has a maximum effect between 1.5-3.5 hours after injection and stops working after 7-8 hours.

How to take it?

Inspect if the Novolin pen contains a colorless, aqueous, and neutral solution. Remove the drug from the refrigerator. The patient can take this medication 30 minutes before meals. The patient may inject Novolin subcutaneously in the abdomen, upper arms, buttocks, or upper legs and change the administration site every after the dose to lessen the risk of developing skin problems in the injection site. Novolin may be used alone usually given three or more times a day or mixed with longer-acting soluble insulin. Do not inject intravenously or intramuscularly. Do not rub the site of injection after administration

Dosage

It will base on the patient’s metabolic needs, blood sugar monitoring, and glycemic control goal. Dose adjustments may be done with patients taking Novolin with other drugs or a Change in Insulin regimen.

Side Effects

Sweating, dizziness or light-headedness, hunger, fast heart rate, headache, slurred speech, blurred vision, and anxiety are the common symptoms of taking this medication.

Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications

Never share Novolin GE Toronto Pen with other patients even if the needle is changed. Thiazolidinediones or other Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists in combination with Novolin can cause fluid retention and may progress to heart failure. Dose adjustments must be done for a patient taking this medication with ACE inhibitors, Antidiabetic agents, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, sulphonamide antibiotics, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, sympathomimetic agents, alcohol, beta-blockers, pentamidine, and reserpine. Patients with Renal impairment and Hepatic impairment have an increased risk of having hypoglycemia and thus require frequent blood sugar monitoring.

Adverse Effect

Novolin may cause acute peripheral neuropathy, worsen diabetic retinopathy, Anaphylaxis due to hypersensitivity, Hypoglycemia, Hypokalemia, depression of the skin, enlargement or thickening of tissue, weight gain, sodium retention, edema because of poor metabolic control, Localized cutaneous amyloidosis.

Storage

Do not freeze or expose to direct heat as it will destroy the product. Keep Novolin GE Toronto Pen inside the carton so they will stay clean. The sealed cartridge is stored in a refrigerator with a temperature ranging from 2-8°C The cartridge that is currently in use should not be stored in the refrigerator and be kept a room temperature. Unrefrigerated cartridges must be thrown away for 28 days if stored at room temperature.

Disposal

Do not dispose of this drug in wastewater or recycle needles and syringes. Placed used needles in a puncture-resistant sharps container with a screw cap.