Thread: Insulin Novolin R pre workout

I found that taking insulin novolin R pre workout is best timing for me. How long to wait to take the insulin after eating my first meal which is 16 egg whites and 1 1/2 cup oats with 2tbs peanut butter? And how long do you half to stay awake after shot?

I think this is in the wrong section but...

1) Novolin R is a short acting insulin (similar to Humulin R) so you'd want to eat ideally 30 to 45 minutes after injecting. With rapid acting insulins like Humalog and Novolog, the eating window is shortened to about 15 minutes after injection. Of course, these are really rough estimates and can vary from person to person, so you shouldn't be sitting there expecting to wait out the full 45 minutes before you have your meal - if you get light headed or experience hypo signs leading up to your supposed eating window then you should eat because that could very well save your life.

2) Here's a chart of various insulins and their peak periods:



You should be safe to sleep after the peak has passed. So for "R" type insulins you're good after about 4 hours but make sure you have enough carbs to cover you before in that duration.

most usually start 10grams of carbs per IU of insulin and then lowering it to where you still satisfy the insulin needs but not overdo the carbs as otherwise you will gain lots of fat easily. so best is step by step and always being mindful of how insulin works and its timings and have key people around you aware of your actions so they can jump in and help if it would ever be needed

Ok thanks. I have my pre workout meal with insulin about an hour or more after my first meal is that long enough window between meals? First meal 3cup egg whites 1 1/2 cup oats. And I have been having my pre workout meal about 10min after injection then train. I have orange juice on hand during workout if feeling hypo but typically feel fine. I notice after my workout I was going hypo and had to down the oj and a few rice cakes then went home and ate and started feeling fine. But felt really drained after by only taking 2iu it all happened about 2 hours after injection was when I really felt hypo. Is that normal?

Originally Posted by ns9797

Ok thanks. I have my pre workout meal with insulin about an hour or more after my first meal is that long enough window between meals? First meal 3cup egg whites 1 1/2 cup oats. And I have been having my pre workout meal about 10min after injection then train. I have orange juice on hand during workout if feeling hypo but typically feel fine. I notice after my workout I was going hypo and had to down the oj and a few rice cakes then went home and ate and started feeling fine. But felt really drained after by only taking 2iu it all happened about 2 hours after injection was when I really felt hypo. Is that normal?

the moment you feeling going hypo and weaker start eating quick carbs, always have some dextrose or banana or honey with you

Is an hour fine takin the insulin after a meal or should I wait longer? Meal before injection eggs whites and oats. Also since I felt the hypo after the workout even injecting the insulin hours before, how much carbs should I consume when feeling hypo even know I already followed the 10 gram rule per iu and took in the nessacry carbs pre workout with the insulin. Should I wait until I feel hypo to take in the necessary carbs or is that feeling going to come off and on even know I took enough carbs with the shot. If you catch my drift.

I'm gonna assume this is your first 'run' with insulin? How long have you been going at it so far? With the hypo feeling, if you're starting to get dizzy midway in the gym or on the verge of blacking out and etc, don't bother calculating how many carbs to take in and so on at that point in time. Save your life first. As Godzilla said, you'd want to start eating quick carbs - simple sugars or you could get some glucose tabs from a pharmacy as those work faster. If this happens on a regular basis, you'd be able to start gauging how much carbs you take in to stop the hypo and slowly taper down from there. It's always better to overshoot your carbs when going hypo because you can potentially die.

If you've not had any experience with insulin, you'd ideally want someone to guide you - both plan out a proper insulin protocol for you (dosage, time between meals, hypo precautions, etc) and walk you through execution. Insulin is a very powerful hormone and can put on serious muscle on you if used right, but the keywords here being 'used right' so you'd want proper guidance.

Yes first run and third day, I understand to over shoot on carbs if feeling hypo, I didn’t start feeling hypo until after post workout cardio just light treadmill incline. That was my only hypo moment which was like 2 post injection of the Novolin R, so even know the typical timing somebody should consume carbs is ideally 30 to 45 min after injection and even know I consumed the estimated amount of carbs around that time I ended up having a hypo moment 2 hours after. So should I still have the carbs around the 30 to 45 min post injection time and more carbs when starting to feel hypo even long after injection? Yes I’m new to the insulin and know some of the dangers that’s why after inject I’m on high alert on how I’m feeling but I know when I’m starting to have a hypo moment, it’s as if you haven’t ate at all and are starting to get the shakes breathing heavily and are to nausea to eat even know you need to.

Also been noticing increased thirst and urination

I think something you might have missed out on is that R-type insulins have a second release coming at the 1.5h to 2h mark where, if you look at the chart I posted earlier, the insulin truly peaks. Your carbs should cover the first peak, so you have your food (your sugars and your proteins), then you go train. Right as the second release comes around you want to eat again; some carb powder like Vitargo or dextrose with your whey isolate. The reason why you're having the hypo moment is probably because while you covered your bases with the first peak, you neglected to eat again on the second peak. Hope this helps.