Insulins Flashcards
Which cells secrete insulin?
Pancreatic beta cells
What is the natural insulin secretion profile?
Basal insulin - slow and steady secretion of background insulin that controls glucose continuously released from liver
Bolus insulin - secreted in response to glucose absorbed from food and drink
What are the three types of insulins available in the UK?
- Human insulin
- Human insulin analogue
- Animal insulin (bovine or porcine)
What inactives Insulin?
G.I enzymes inactivates it, therefore it cannot be taken orally. Therefore given by injection.
Best route is S.C route
Where do patients inject themselves?
In areas with most subcutaneous fat.
- Abdomen (fastest absorption rate)
- Inner thigh
- Outer thigh/buttock (slower absorption compared to abdomen or inner thigh)
What must be done to avoid lipohypertrophy? And why?
Rotate sites to minimise risk.
Injection in the same place can cause area to be infected, bruised, swollen.
What are the three insulin preparations?
- Short acting insulins (soluble & rapid acting)
- Intermediate-acting insulins
- Long acting insulins
When are short rapid acting insulin used?
Injected immediately before meals
Examples of short, rapid insulin?
LAG
- Lispro (Humalog)
- Aspart (Novorapid, fiasp)
- Glulisine (apidra)
What is the onset time and duration for short, rapid acting insulin?
Onset - 15 mins
Duration - 2-5hrs
When is short soluble acting insulin used?
Used in diabetic emergencies like ketoacidosis & peri-operatively
What are some examples of short soluble acting inuslin?
Actrapid - Humulin S, Insuman
What is the onset and duration for short soluble acting inuslin?
Onset - 30-60 mins (SC admin)
Duration - 9 hours
What is intermediate insulin? And when is it used?
Different types of insulins mixed together - biphasic - to mimic basal insulin
- Isophane = insulin & protamine
- Mix/pre-mix = has to be mixed up
Injected before meals
What are some examples of Intermediate acting inuslin?
Isophane/NPH - Humulin I
Biphasic - Novomix, Humalogmix, Humulin M3
What is the onset and duration of Intermediate acting insulin?
Onset - 1-2hrs
Duration - 11-24hrs
What are some examples of long acting insulin?
Detemir - Levemir, added unto to Liraglutide (OD-BD)
Glargine - Lantus, Toujeo (OD)
Degludec - Tresiba (OD)
Which insulins are given to type 2 diabetes?
Determir & lantus