Drug & supplement interaction

Caraway + Insulin (Human)

Insulin (Human) brand names: Novolin N, Novolin 70/30, Novolin R, Novolin L, Afrezza.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Caraway has a moderate interaction with Insulin (Human). Theoretically, caraway 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

Caraway and Insulin (Human)

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

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin (Human)

Insulin (Human) falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Caraway interacts with.

Theoretically, caraway might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that caraway can reduce blood glucose levels. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Medication dose adjustments may be necessary.
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: caraway in concentrated supplement or oil form may nudge your blood sugar a little lower on its own. Since insulin already lowers blood sugar, stacking the two together could theoretically push you into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). That might show up as shakiness, sweating, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, confusion, or feeling suddenly hungry.

I want to be honest about the evidence though: this concern comes only from animal studies, so it's more of a theoretical caution than a proven problem. The caraway you sprinkle on food almost certainly won't matter. If you take a caraway oil or capsule, just check your blood sugar a bit more often and let your pharmacist or doctor know before starting it.

References
  1. Eddouks M, Lemhardri A, Michel JB. Caraway and caper: potential anti-hyperglycaemic plants in diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;94:143-8. PubMed
  2. Modu S, Gohla K Umar IA. The hypoglycaemic and hypocholrsterolaemic properties of black caraway (Carum carvi L.) oil in alloxan diabetic rats. Biokemistri (Nigeria) 1997;7:91-97.

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

Caraway Also Interacts With Other Medications

Caraway has 407 moderate, 5 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin (Human) 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 Caraway

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin (Human)

This page covers Caraway only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin (Human) page lists 259 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Chelation Therapy Products (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 218 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin (Human) page

“With human insulin (Novolin, Afrezza), extra glucose lowering is not a nuisance, it is the hazard itself, and this is one of the lists I treat as genuinely serious. Nearly every ingredient here either drops blood sugar on its own or adds to insulin's effect, and the combination can push a normal dose into hypoglycemia, a dangerous low.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin (Human) interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 191 real supplement products containing Caraway, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Caraway. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin (Human) too, on top of Caraway — 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 Caraway and Insulin (Human) 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 Caraway
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin (Human)
Top 10%

#173 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 Caraway

What is Caraway?

Caraway
  • Digestive upset and bloating
  • Gas (flatulence)
  • Indigestion (dyspepsia)
  • Irritable bowel symptoms
  • Increasing breast milk (traditional)

Caraway is a common cooking spice that has long been used to ease gas, bloating, and indigestion. Some evidence suggests caraway oil—often combined with peppermint oil—may help with indigestion, but evidence for most other uses is limited. Food amounts are generally safe; concentrated oils and supplements should be used cautiously and discussed with your pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Caraway monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Human Insulin Injection

What Is Human Insulin Injection Used For?

Brand names: Novolin N, Novolin 70/30, Novolin R, Novolin L, Afrezza

Novolin (human insulin injection) is used to improve glycemic control — meaning blood sugar management — in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

Novolin 70/30 is a fixed-ratio mixture of intermediate-acting and short-acting human insulin. Because the ratio is fixed, it cannot be adjusted separately for background (basal) or mealtime (prandial) needs.

See full Human Insulin Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Caraway

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

0Major
407Moderate
5Minor
2,417No known interaction
Moderate

407 interactions

Showing 60 of 407 moderate interactions — see all 407 on the Caraway page.

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,417 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 Caraway and Insulin (Human) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Caraway with Insulin (Human)?
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 Caraway and Insulin (Human) 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 (Human) and Caraway?

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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.