Help with Insulin products

The 70/30, 50/50 refers to the concentration of each ingredient. Example: Humulin 70/30 is 70% isophane and 30% regular insulin. I'm sure a quick Google search would confirm the different insulin ingredients. I don't know all those yet.

shroomysoup said:

Anyone? Come on. You registered pharmacists should know this, right?

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I am not a pharmacist, but, google search "insulin types"

First result: http://diabetes.webmd.com/diabetes-types-insulin

I wouldn't usually call webmd a great source but it looks decent enough.

As for the specific question about aspart vs aspart protamine:

http://press.novonordisk-us.com/internal.aspx?bid=109

shroomysoup said:

Yeah, I know that. I just want to know what the advantages are between 70/30 and 50/50. And what is the difference between aspart protamine and aspart?

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The advantage to using a 70/30 vs. a 50/50 is going to be patient specific based on their glycemic control. If they need more of a longer acting insulin and less post-prandially, then 70/30 would be appropriate. If more post-meal, faster peaking, then the 50/50 would be used. 70/30 tends to be more commonly used in my opinion.

Aspart is just plain Novolog by itself. Immediately released (monomers) bolus insulin. When you have Novolog 75/25, the manufacturers have to modify the insulins somewhat so the release and pharmacology works. Hence, you don't just have plain NPH anymore...you have a modified aspart (just like NPH is a modified regular insulin) so that it's release into the blood is slowed. The whole hexamer to monomer dissociation.