Drug & supplement interaction

Fig + Insulin (Bovine)

Insulin (Bovine) brand name: Hypurin Bovine Neutral.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Insulin (Bovine) falls into 2 drug categories that Fig can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, fig leaf might enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of hypoglycemic drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
Interactions2
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Fig and Insulin (Bovine)

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Fig interacts with whole categories of medication. Insulin (Bovine) falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Fig in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Insulin (Bovine)

Insulin (Bovine) falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Fig interacts with.

Theoretically, fig leaf might enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of hypoglycemic drugs.
A small clinical study in patients with type 1 diabetes shows that consuming a tea made from fig leaves modestly reduces postprandial glucose levels and insulin requirements.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

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

Here's the gist: fig leaf may have its own mild blood-sugar-lowering action. So if you pair concentrated fig leaf products (like fig leaf tea or extracts) with your bovine insulin, the two could stack up and push your glucose lower than you intended. In one small study of people with type 1 diabetes, fig leaf tea modestly lowered after-meal sugars and even reduced how much insulin they needed.

The thing to watch for is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): shakiness, sweating, dizziness, a racing heart, or confusion. Eating regular figs as a food is unlikely to cause trouble, it's the concentrated leaf supplements that matter most. Please don't change your insulin dose on your own. Check in with your pharmacist or doctor first, and keep monitoring your sugars if you do add fig leaf.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Serraclara A, Hawkins F, Perez C, et al. Hypoglycemic action of an oral fig-leaf decoction in type-I diabetic patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1998;39:19-22. PubMed
Moderate

INSULIN

2 of 2
Fig leaf may enhance the blood glucose lowering effects of insulin.
A small clinical study in patients with type 1 diabetes shows that consuming a tea made from fig leaves modestly reduces postprandial glucose levels and insulin requirements.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction 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..

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

Here's the gist for anyone using bovine insulin (like Hypurin Bovine Neutral): fig leaf may push your blood sugar lower on its own. When you stack that on top of insulin, the two effects can add up, so your sugar could drop more than you expect. In one small study of people with type 1 diabetes, fig leaf tea modestly lowered after-meal glucose and let folks get by on a bit less insulin.

The thing to watch for is low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion). The fig fruit you eat as food is unlikely to cause trouble, but concentrated fig leaf teas or supplements are the real concern. Please don't change your insulin dose on your own. Loop in your pharmacist or doctor first, and keep checking your sugars closely.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Serraclara A, Hawkins F, Perez C, et al. Hypoglycemic action of an oral fig-leaf decoction in type-I diabetic patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1998;39:19-22. PubMed

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

Fig Also Interacts With Other Medications

Fig has 409 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin (Bovine) one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 409 No known interaction 2,421 (incl. Insulin (Bovine))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fig

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin (Bovine)

This page covers Fig only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin (Bovine) page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

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

By severity: 2 major · 211 moderate · 29 minor.

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

“Bovine insulin (Hypurin Bovine Neutral) lowers blood sugar, and the dose is calibrated to do exactly that, no more. That is why the 242 supplements on this page deserve real attention before adding one.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin (Bovine) interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 189 real supplement products containing Fig, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Fig. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin (Bovine) too, on top of Fig — 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 Fig and Insulin (Bovine) 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 Fig
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin (Bovine)
Steady interest

#1,826 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 Fig

What is Fig?

  • Constipation and digestive health
  • Blood sugar support
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Skin conditions (topical sap)
  • Source of fiber and minerals

Fig (Ficus carica) is a common fruit that has long been used as a gentle food remedy for constipation, and its leaves are used traditionally for blood sugar and coughs. The fruit is a safe and nutritious food, but evidence for fig leaf supplements treating specific health conditions is limited. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated fig leaf products, especially if you have diabetes.

Read the full Fig monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fig

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

0Major
409Moderate
0Minor
2,420No known interaction
409 Moderate 2,420 No interaction
Moderate

409 interactions

Showing 60 of 409 moderate interactions — see all 409 on the Fig page.

No interaction 2,420 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Fig against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,420 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Fig list.

See the full Fig interactions page
See every supplement checked against Insulin (Bovine), ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Fig monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Insulin (Bovine) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Insulin (Bovine), ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Fig and Insulin (Bovine) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Fig with Insulin (Bovine)?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Fig and Insulin (Bovine)?
Insulin (Bovine) belongs to more than one drug category, and Fig interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Fig and Insulin (Bovine) 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 (Bovine) and Fig?

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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.