Insulin Analogs
Also known as: Insulin lispro, Insulin aspart, Insulin glargine, Insulin degludec, Insulin detemir, Insulin icodec
Engineered insulins (rapid-acting, long-acting, basal) for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. FDA-approved since 1996 (lispro). Prescription medications.
Last updated
Mechanism of Action
Insulin analogs are modified versions of human insulin that activate the insulin receptor, driving glucose uptake into muscle and fat and suppressing hepatic glucose output. Amino-acid changes alter how fast they act: rapid-acting analogs (lispro, aspart, glulisine) dissociate quickly from hexamers for mealtime coverage, while basal analogs extend action by precipitating at the injection site (glargine), binding albumin via a fatty-acid chain (detemir, degludec) or forming multi-hexamers (degludec). Once-weekly basal analogs bind albumin very strongly to last about a week.
- Half-life
- Varies by analog: rapid-acting ~3-5 h duration; glargine/detemir up to ~24 h; degludec >24 h (half-life ~25 h); weekly analogs ~1 week
- Administration Routes
- Subcutaneous, Intravenous
- Research Status
- Clinical
Reported Benefits
- Glucose control in type 1 diabetes (essential) and in type 2 diabetes
- Rapid-acting analogs better match mealtime glucose than regular human insulin
- Basal analogs give flatter profiles with less nocturnal hypoglycemia than NPH insulin
- Cardiovascular safety shown for glargine (ORIGIN) and degludec (DEVOTE)
Potential Side Effects
- Hypoglycemia, which can be severe or fatal
- Weight gain
- Hypokalemia
- Injection-site reactions and lipodystrophy
- Fluid retention, especially with thiazolidinediones
Common Dosing
Doses are individualized to blood glucose, body weight, diet and activity, using basal analogs once daily (or once weekly for the newest products) and rapid-acting analogs at meals or in pumps. Dosing is set and supervised by the prescribing clinician, with glucose monitoring.
The dosing information above is aggregated from research literature and anecdotal community reports for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation, prescription, or medical advice. Peptides are sold as research chemicals only and are not intended for human use.
Contraindications
- During episodes of hypoglycemia
- Hypersensitivity to the specific insulin or excipients
- Not for weight loss or bodybuilding use in people without diabetes (risk of fatal hypoglycemia)
No documented stacking partners for Insulin Analogs yet.
- View
Short-acting insulin analogues versus regular human insulin for adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus
2016
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The treat-to-target trial: randomized addition of glargine or human NPH insulin to oral therapy of type 2 diabetic patients
2003
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Basal insulin and cardiovascular and other outcomes in dysglycemia
2012
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Efficacy and Safety of Degludec versus Glargine in Type 2 Diabetes
2017