Types of insulin medication
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Types of Insulin Medication
Introduction to Insulin Types
Insulin is a critical medication for managing diabetes, particularly for individuals with type 1 diabetes and those with advanced type 2 diabetes. Various forms of insulin have been developed to cater to different needs, including long-acting, short-acting, and novel delivery methods. This article explores the different types of insulin medications, their efficacy, and their safety profiles.
Long-Acting Insulin
Insulin Glargine
Insulin glargine is a widely used long-acting insulin analogue. It provides a nearly constant, peakless release of insulin when injected subcutaneously once daily, making it effective for maintaining basal insulin levels . Studies have shown that insulin glargine can improve glycemic control with a lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia compared to neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin .
Oral Basal Insulin (I338)
Oral insulin 338 (I338) is a long-acting basal insulin analogue formulated in a tablet with an absorption enhancer. A study comparing I338 with subcutaneous insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes patients found no significant difference in fasting plasma glucose levels between the two groups. However, the development of I338 was discontinued due to high dosage requirements, making it commercially unviable .
Short-Acting Insulin
Regular Human Insulin
Regular human insulin is a short-acting insulin used to manage blood glucose levels around meal times. A study comparing a biosimilar regular insulin to Humulin® R found them to be bioequivalent, suggesting that biosimilar insulins could improve access to this medication .
Insulin Analogues
Short-acting insulin analogues, such as insulin lispro, insulin aspart, and insulin glulisine, are designed to mimic the body's natural insulin response to meals. These analogues offer more flexibility in meal timing compared to regular human insulin. However, a review found no clear benefits of short-acting insulin analogues over regular human insulin in terms of glycemic control and hypoglycemia risk .
Novel Insulin Delivery Methods
Inhaled Insulin
Inhaled insulin is an innovative delivery method aimed at reducing the burden of injections. It has been developed to improve patient compliance and mimic physiological insulin release more closely. However, its adoption has been limited due to concerns about lung function and long-term safety .
Combination Therapies
Combining insulin with other glucose-lowering drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, has shown promise in reducing insulin doses, minimizing weight gain, and lowering the risk of hypoglycemia 34. These combination therapies offer a more individualized approach to diabetes management.
Conclusion
The landscape of insulin medication is diverse, with various types designed to meet different therapeutic needs. Long-acting insulins like insulin glargine provide stable basal insulin levels, while short-acting insulins and analogues manage postprandial glucose spikes. Novel delivery methods and combination therapies are paving the way for more personalized and effective diabetes management. As research continues, the goal remains to improve patient outcomes and quality of life through optimized insulin therapies.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic