Drug & supplement interaction

Black Mustard + Insulin Degludec

Insulin Degludec brand name: Tresiba.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Black Mustard has a moderate interaction with Insulin Degludec. Theoretically, black mustard seed might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used with antidiabetes drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Black Mustard and Insulin Degludec

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin Degludec

Insulin Degludec falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Black Mustard interacts with.

Theoretically, black mustard seed might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research shows that some extracts of black mustard seeds can reduce blood glucose levels, possibly by regulating the release of insulin and the metabolism of glucose.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: Tresiba (insulin degludec) already does the heavy lifting of lowering your blood sugar. Some animal studies suggest that concentrated black mustard seed extracts may also nudge blood sugar down a bit. If both push in the same direction, you could theoretically end up lower than expected, meaning a higher chance of hypoglycemia (shakiness, sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, or feeling faint).

I want to keep this in perspective. This is a theoretical concern based on lab and animal data, not strong human studies, and using mustard as a normal food or topical rub for sore muscles is very unlikely to matter. If you're thinking about concentrated mustard seed supplements, check with your pharmacist or doctor first and keep an eye on your glucose readings.

References
  1. Anand, P., Murali, K. Y., Tandon, V., Chandra, R., and Murthy, P. S. Preliminary studies on antihyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Brassica nigra (L.) Koch in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Indian J Exp.Biol 2007;45(8):696-701.
  2. Anand, P., Murali, Y. K., Tandon, V., Murthy, P. S., and Chandra, R. Insulinotropic effect of aqueous extract of Brassica nigra improves glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Exp.Clin.Endocrinol.Diabetes 2009;117(6):251-256.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Black Mustard Also Interacts With Other Medications

Black Mustard has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin Degludec one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Black Mustard

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Black Mustard. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin Degludec

This page covers Black Mustard only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin Degludec page lists 239 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate), Agaricus Mushroom (moderate) and Agmatine (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 208 moderate · 30 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin Degludec page

“Insulin degludec (Tresiba) is a long-acting insulin meant to hold blood sugar steady around the clock, which means anything else that pushes glucose down can push it too far. That is the story for nearly all 239 ingredients on this page, and the list warrants genuine caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin Degludec interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Black Mustard as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 77 real supplement products containing Black Mustard, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Black Mustard. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin Degludec too, on top of Black Mustard — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Black Mustard and Insulin Degludec Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Black Mustard
Top half

#648 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin Degludec
Steady interest

#1,905 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Black Mustard

What is Black Mustard?

Black Mustard
  • Culinary spice
  • Muscle and joint aches (topical plaster)
  • Chest congestion (chest rub or poultice)
  • Digestive upset
  • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support

Black mustard is best known as a pungent culinary spice and a traditional topical remedy for muscle aches and congestion. Solid human evidence for any specific health benefit is limited, and concentrated seed extracts or undiluted oil can irritate or burn the skin. Use it mainly as a food, and talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it medicinally.

Read the full Black Mustard monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Insulin Degludec (rDNA Origin) Injection

What Is Insulin Degludec (rDNA Origin) Injection Used For?

Brand name: Tresiba

Insulin degludec (brand name Tresiba) is used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults and children 1 year of age and older who have diabetes mellitus — including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

It is not recommended for treating diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous complication of diabetes that requires a different type of treatment). In people with type 1 diabetes, insulin degludec must always be used together with a short-acting insulin.

See full Insulin Degludec (rDNA Origin) Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Black Mustard

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Black Mustard — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
85Moderate
0Minor
2,744No known interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

Showing 60 of 85 moderate interactions — see all 85 on the Black Mustard page.

No interaction 2,744 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Black Mustard and Insulin Degludec Together: Common Questions

Can you take Black Mustard with Insulin Degludec?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Black Mustard and Insulin Degludec interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Insulin Degludec and Black Mustard?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.