The short answer
Bitter melon has not been shown to cause extra hypoglycemia with insulin aspart protamine in the reviewed evidence. A small controlled trial did not show clear improvement in major glucose measures.
What this answer covers
Momordica charantia capsules; juice, food, seed and concentrated extracts differ. Fixed NovoLog Mix70/30 medication scope.
- Supplement or preparation
- Momordica charantia
- Medication ingredient
- insulin aspart protamine, human
The controlled trial was not clearly positive
A small trial on standard diabetes therapy found no significant improvement in HbA1c or fasting glucose from bitter-melon capsules. That challenges an assumption that every preparation substantially lowers glucose.
The premix combination was not verified
The abstract does not identify insulin aspart protamine co-use or a hypoglycemia rate for NovoLog Mix70/30. Standard diabetes treatment is not enough to establish this exact interaction.
Keep the preparation boundary
Capsule findings do not establish the effects of all juices, foods, seeds or extracts. Neither a null trial nor traditional use demonstrates universal safety.
Maintain the prescribed insulin regimen
Discuss the exact supplement and amount with the diabetes team and follow your glucose-monitoring and low-glucose treatment plan. Do not change the premix dose yourself. The supplement cannot substitute for the fixed premix or its meal plan.
Evidence and practical considerations
Side effects & toxicity
Small indirect capsule trial was null for major glucose outcomes, without verified exact premix co-use or clinical hypoglycemia incidence.
- Exact scope
- Momordica charantia capsules; juice, food, seed and concentrated extracts differ. Fixed NovoLog Mix70/30 medication scope. with Insulin aspart protamine human RxCUI352385 IN as part of NovoLog Mix70/30, SC only.
- Medication form and route
- subcutaneous insulin premix; oral supplement
What remains uncertain
- Combination label cannot isolate protamine component; no exact herb-event rate or universal adjustment.
Factors that may matter: Fixed component ratio; Meals; Preparation; Dose; Other glucose-active treatment.
Read the supporting source summaries
Source 1: current product label
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: Adults prescribed the fixed insulin-aspart premix
Hypoglycemia can be severe; niacin can reduce glucose lowering. Fixed ratio does not permit independent basal/prandial adjustment. Dose within15minutes before meal start; type2 patients may also dose after meal start as labeled.
How this applies: Exact RxCUI352385 IN insulin aspart protamine, human, addressed as component of this labeled fixed combination.
Combination-product evidence cannot isolate the protamine component or represent pure soluble aspart, NPH or other premixes. No herb-specific event rate.
Source 2: original human study
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · Source check Sep 10, 2026
Population: 40adults with type2diabetes.
No significant improvement in HbA1c or fasting glucose with bitter-melon capsules versus placebo on standard therapy.
How this applies: Indirect for insulin aspart protamine as part of NovoLog Mix70/30; original preparation, drug and endpoint retained.
Small trial; abstract does not identify premix-specific exposure or establish an exact-pair hypoglycemia rate.
Research assessment: · Open full citations ↗
Review and change history
- Publication status
- Published research summary
- Clinical review
- Not yet recorded
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| Article prepared | |
| Prepared exact protamine-aspart ingredient article with fixed-combination and clinical endpoint limits. | |
| Research summary published |
Article revision: 82854ff215504a25
This guide brings together the evidence records used by our interaction checker. Each finding retains its own preparation limits, research date, and source summaries.
Full citations require verification. Reading this answer and the source summaries does not.
Taking other supplements or medications?
Use the checker to explore your other combinations. Ask a pharmacist to review the exact products, amounts and medical conditions in your complete list.
Open the interaction checkerInformation, not medical advice. Do not change prescribed treatment based on this guide.