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Switching to NPH insulin
NPH insulin is a long-acting basal insulin that binds to insulin receptors on cells to promote glucose uptake and utilization, lowering blood glucose levels.
NPH insulin is a long-acting basal insulin that binds to insulin receptors on cells to promote glucose uptake and utilization, lowering blood glucose levels. Used for Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
At a glance
| Generic name | Switching to NPH insulin |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Humulin N, Novolin N, Novolin NPH, NPH Iletin II, Isophane insulin |
| Sponsor | Providence Health & Services |
| Drug class | Intermediate-acting insulin |
| Target | Insulin receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Diabetes |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulin is an intermediate-acting insulin formulation created by complexing insulin with protamine, which slows its absorption and extends its duration of action to 10-16 hours. It works by mimicking the body's natural basal insulin secretion, allowing sustained glucose control between meals and overnight. When patients switch to NPH insulin, they transition from other insulin regimens to achieve improved glycemic control with this specific pharmacokinetic profile.
Approved indications
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Common side effects
- Hypoglycemia
- Weight gain
- Injection site reactions
- Lipodystrophy
Key clinical trials
- Human Versus Analogue Insulin for Youth With Type 1 Diabetes in Low-Resource Settings (PHASE4)
- Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of GLARGEN® Versus NPH Insulin in Diabetic Tunisian Patients. (PHASE4)
- Comparison Study of Insulin Glargine and NPH Insulin (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Switching to NPH insulin CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Switching to NPH insulin updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Providence Health & Services portfolio CI