What Is NovoLog Mix 70/30? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

If you've been prescribed NovoLog Mix 70/30, or your doctor is considering it, this guide answers the most important questions in plain language. What is it, what is it for, how do you take it, and what does it look like in daily use?

What Is NovoLog Mix 70/30?

NovoLog Mix 70/30 is a premixed insulin analog manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It combines two types of insulin in fixed proportions:

• 70% insulin aspart protamine — intermediate-acting insulin in crystalline form, providing gradual background coverage
• 30% insulin aspart — rapid-acting insulin in soluble form, working quickly to cover blood sugar spikes at mealtime

Together, this combination means you only need two injections a day — before breakfast and before dinner — to cover both your mealtime and between-meal insulin needs. It's classified as a "biphasic" insulin because it has two distinct components with different time-action profiles.

The medication is manufactured as a white, cloudy (not clear) suspension for subcutaneous injection. It is available as a 10 mL vial or a 3 mL FlexPen (prefilled injector pen). The concentration is 100 units per mL (U-100).

What Is NovoLog Mix 70/30 Used For?

NovoLog Mix 70/30 is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus — an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus — a metabolic condition where the body doesn't use insulin effectively and may not produce enough

It is NOT approved for use in children under 18. It is NOT recommended for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). It cannot be used in insulin pumps or mixed with other insulin products.

How Does It Work? The Short Version

After injection, the rapid-acting insulin aspart (30%) starts working within 10-20 minutes, peaks around 2 hours, and handles your mealtime glucose spike. The intermediate-acting protamine component (70%) absorbs more slowly and provides a longer tail of insulin activity lasting up to 24 hours. Together, they give you a smooth blood-sugar-lowering effect across most of your day when you inject twice.

How Do You Take NovoLog Mix 70/30?

Here are the basics of taking NovoLog Mix 70/30:

1. Preparation: Because it is a suspension, you must gently roll (not shake) the vial or pen 10 times, then flip it 10 times until the liquid looks uniformly white and cloudy. Injecting a non-resuspended dose gives you inaccurate amounts of each component.
2. Timing: Type 1 diabetes: inject within 15 minutes before a meal. Type 2 diabetes: inject within 15 minutes before or after starting a meal. Never inject without planning to eat within 15 minutes.
3. Injection sites: Inject under the skin (subcutaneously) of the stomach area, buttocks, upper thighs, or upper arms. Rotate sites with each injection to prevent skin changes.
4. Never: Inject into a vein or muscle; mix with other insulins; use in an insulin pump; reuse needles; share your pen or syringe with another person.

How Is the Dose Determined?

Your doctor individualized your dose based on your blood glucose levels, diet, exercise habits, and other medications. There is no universal dose. For type 2 patients newly starting insulin, a common starting strategy from the INITIATE study began at 6 units twice daily before breakfast and dinner, then titrated upward based on blood sugar readings. The FlexPen dials in 1-unit increments.

Storage Instructions

• Unopened vials and pens: Refrigerate at 36-46°F (2-8°C). Do not freeze. Keep in original carton to protect from light.
• In-use vials: May be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 28 days.
• In-use pens: Keep at room temperature (do NOT refrigerate once in use) for up to 14 days. Do not leave in a hot car or in direct sunlight.

For a deeper look at how the medication works at the molecular level, read: How Does NovoLog Mix 70/30 Work? Mechanism of Action Explained.

Having trouble filling your prescription? medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to find which ones have NovoLog Mix 70/30 in stock.