Insulin
types and information
Humalog
Humalog
is an Eli Lilly product, with the active ingredient
insulin lispro. It is extremely rapid-acting, and
will typically begin to work within 15 minutes. Effects
of the insulin last for between 2 and 5 hours. It
is faster-acting than soluble insulin, and is therefore
extremely useful around mealtimes. Like many other
rapid-acting forms of insulin, humalog may be combined
with intermediate or longer-acting insulin for a longer
period of blood glucose maintenance.
Lantus
and Levemir
Lantus
and Levermir are long-acting insulins. Typically lantus
is administered to the body once every day, but levermir
may have to be administered twice to some patients.
Lantus and Levermire keep the body’s basal insulin
at a sufficient level, so a diabetic retains energy
when not eating food. Lantus and Levermir are typically
employed in combination with short-acting insulin
at meal times, but this is by no means always the
case. Lantus and Levermir work best when they are
used on a daily basis, and a strict and regular regimen
is adhered to.
To ensure you receive the correct dosage of insulin,
consult carefully with your diabetes healthcare team.
Diet and exercise may affect your insulin dosage.
Actrapid
Novo Nordisk
did produce Actrapid preloaded pens, cartridges and
vials for the UK insulin market. However, due to commercial
reasons they have discontinued both the pens and cartridges
as from January 2006.
Actrapid itself is human soluble insulin. When it
enters the body, it works in the same way as natural
insulin and increases overall ability for the body
to uptake glucose. Soluble, or neutral, insulin such
as Actrapid is fast-acting (usually between 30 minutes
and an hour) and lasts for approximately eight hours
depending on dose. Soluble insulin is usually used
before a meal, and controls postprandial blood glucose
levels.
Soluble insulin such as Actrapid can sometimes be
combined with other types of insulin (longer-lasting)
to provide overall control through the day. With all
insulin types it is worth bearing in mind that the
stricter control exercised over diabetes, the less
likely it is to develop into serious complications.
Novorapid
The active
ingredient in Novorapid is insulin aspart. When novorapid
is injected, it is extremely fast-acting, and works
rapidly to normalise blood sugar levels. It typically
begins working after 10-20 minutes, and will last
for between 3 and 5 hours. It may be injected before
a meal, and sometimes immediately after, to ensure
strict control of post-prandial levels.
Often, insulin aspart formulations such as novorapid
will be combined with other longer lasting (intermediate-acting
and longer-acting) insulin. In this way, control over
blood glucose levels can be maintained throughout
the day.
Velosulin
Velosulin
is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.
The active component in velosulin is neutral or soluble
insulin. Following an injection, Velosulin works quickly
(between 30 minutes and an hour), and may last for
approximately 8 hours. Common medical thinking dictates
that Velosulin should be taken immediately prior to
eating, between 15 and 30 minutes before a meal, so
post-prandial spikes may be better controlled.
Often, short-acting insulin such as Velosulin is given
in conjunction with intermediate-acting or longer-acting
insulin.
Humulin
m3
Humulin
M3 incorporates the active ingredient human biphasic
isophane insulin. Humulin M3 is administered using
a preloaded pen, penfill cartridge and vials. Humulin
contains soluble insulin and Isophane insulin. Soluble
insulin is short-acting (30-60 minutes) and last for
around 8 hours. Isophane insulin is an intermediate-acting
insulin. It takes considerably longer to come into
effect, but it lasts far longer. When miced together,
the combination of insulin types lowers blood sugar
rapidly, then offers a more sustained reduction over
a longer period of time. Usually this type of insulin
is injected prior to a meal or snack.
Other types of Humulin are also available in different
forms, such as Humulin I (Isophane) and Humulin s
(soluble insulin.)
Hypurin
Hypurin
is based around the active ingredient isophane insulin,
and is an intermediate-acting insulin. It usually
starts working approximately two hours after injection
and will work for between 18 and 24 hours. This helps
to regulate blood sugars throughout the day. Commonly
used in conjunction with short-acting insulin, isophane
insulin such as Hypurin is administered before meals
to control blood glucose levels after eating.
Hypurin
comes in many forms includoing Hypurin bovine lente
(Insulin zinc suspension, long-acting), Hypurin bovine
neutral (Soluble insuline, rapi-acting), hypurin bovine
protamine zinc (protamine zinc insulin, long-acting),
Hypurin procine 30/70 (Biphasic isophane insulin,
short-acting), Hypurin porcine insulin (isophane insulin,
intermediate-acting), and Hypurin porcine neutral
(isophane insulin, short-acting.)
Insuman
Insuman
is another insulin type that come in several different
forms. Insuman basal is an intermediate-acting insulin
with the active ingredient isophane insulin. Insuman
comb prefilled pens, cartridge and vials mix together
soluble and isophane insulin. Different types of Insuman
comb (15,25,50.) Insuman rapid is another form, based
around neutral or soluble insulin. This insulin is
rapid-acting (30-60 minutes) and lasts for around
eight hours.
Insulatard
Insulatard,
manufactured by Novo Nordisk, comes in preloaded pens
(Novojet, InnoLet, Flexpen), penfill cartridges and
vials based around the active ingredient human isophane
insulin. This type of intermediate-acting insulin
helps to control blood glucose throughout the day.
Ultratard
Ultratard
vials contain human insulin zinc suspension (crystalline).
They are used to treat diabetes.
The type of insulin in this medicine is called insulin
zinc suspension. This is known as a long acting insulin.
When injected under the skin it helps to control blood
glucose throughout the day. (See the information leaflet
provided with your insulin for more information about
when to inject the insulin and how long its effects
last.)
Mixtard
Mixtard
comes in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 preloaded pens (NovoLet),
and also in penfill cartridges and vials, and the
Mixtard 30 Innolet injection device. All of these
medicines are based around human biphasic isophane
insulin. Mixtard is based around soluble insulin and
isophane insulin. Pre-mixed insulin such as this acts
rapidly (soluble), and at an intermediate level.
