Drug & supplement interaction

Parsley + Insulin (Human)

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

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

Parsley has a moderate interaction with Insulin (Human). Theoretically, parsley might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.

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

Parsley 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 Parsley interacts with.

Theoretically, parsley might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that parsley might decrease blood glucose. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might 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 gist: parsley itself, in the amounts you'd toss into a salad or sauce, isn't going to budge your blood sugar. The possible concern comes from concentrated parsley supplements or extracts, where animal studies hint that parsley may nudge blood sugar a little lower. If that effect carried over to people, it could add to what your insulin is already doing.

Since insulin works by pulling sugar out of your blood, stacking it with something that also lowers glucose could, in theory, tip you into a low (shaky, sweaty, dizzy, confused, fast heartbeat). I want to be honest though, this is theoretical and based only on lab and animal data, so it's far from a sure thing. If you use parsley supplements, just keep an eye on your readings and check with your pharmacist or doctor before any dose changes.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Tunali T, Yarat A, Yanardag R, et al. Effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) on the skin of STZ induced diabetic rats. Phytother Res 1999;13:138-41.. DOI
  2. Yanardag, R., Bolkent, S., Tabakoglu-Oguz, A., and Ozsoy-Sacan, O. Effects of Petroselinum crispum extract on pancreatic B cells and blood glucose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2003;26(8):1206-1210. PubMed
  3. Bolkent, S., Yanardag, R., Ozsoy-Sacan, O., and Karabulut-Bulan, O. Effects of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) on the liver of diabetic rats: a morphological and biochemical study. Phytother.Res 2004;18(12):996-999.
  4. Ozsoy-Sacan, O., Yanardag, R., Orak, H., Ozgey, Y., Yarat, A., and Tunali, T. Effects of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) extract versus glibornuride on the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 3-8-2006;104(1-2):175-181. 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

Parsley Also Interacts With Other Medications

Parsley has 442 moderate 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.

Moderate 442 No known interaction 2,388 (incl. Insulin (Human))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Parsley

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin (Human)

This page covers Parsley 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 Parsley as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 3,292 real supplement products containing Parsley, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Parsley. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin (Human) too, on top of Parsley — 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 Parsley 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 Parsley
Top 10%

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

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

#213 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 Parsley

What is Parsley?

Parsley
  • Water retention and bloating
  • Urinary and bladder support
  • Digestive upset
  • Freshening breath
  • Source of vitamins and antioxidants

Parsley is a popular culinary herb that is safe to eat in normal food amounts and is a good source of vitamins K and C. It is traditionally used as a diuretic and for digestion, but solid human evidence for medicinal benefits is limited. Concentrated supplements, seed extracts, and the essential oil are much stronger than food and should be used cautiously, especially during pregnancy.

Read the full Parsley 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 & Parsley

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

0Major
442Moderate
0Minor
2,387No known interaction
442 Moderate 2,387 No interaction
Moderate

442 interactions

Showing 60 of 442 moderate interactions — see all 442 on the Parsley page.

No interaction 2,387 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,387 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Parsley list.

See the full Parsley interactions page
See every supplement checked against Insulin (Human), 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
Parsley monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Insulin (Human) supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Insulin (Human), ranked by severity Human Insulin Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication 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 Parsley and Insulin (Human) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Parsley 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 Parsley 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 Parsley?

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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.