Insulins Flashcards
Name the 3 rapid acting insulins
Can you think of their brand names?
Insulin Glulisine Apidra®
Insulin Aspart Novorapid®
Insulin Lispro Humalog®
That GAL is RAPID!
What type of insulin is Novorapid?
Insulin Aspart
Rapid-acting
When should the rapid acting insulins be injected?
Immediately before eating
(0- 15 mins before food)
How long does it generally take rapid acting insulins to start working?
~10 - 20 minutes
How long is the duration of action of rapid acting insulins?
around 2 - 5 hours
How many units of insulin do the Flexpen, Flextouch, Kwikpen and Solostar (all pre-filled disposable pens) tend to contain?
300 units
3ml pens containing 100 units/ ml
Are patients more or less at risk of hypglyceamia when using rapid-acting insulins compared to other insulins?
Less at risk of hypoglyceamia as it is only in body for a few hours and is used with meals
What type of insulin are short acting insulins?
Short acting insulin= Soluble insulin (S S)
Can get different types of soluble insulins:
Soluble human
Soluble bovine (‘neutral’) Beef
Soluble porcine (‘neutral’) Pig
What kind of insulin is Actrapid?
Insulin soluble (human)
Short- acting
When should short acting insulins be injected?
15 - 30 mins before food
- Must eat food within 30 mins of injecting to avoid hypoglyceamia*
- They start working after 30 mins*
How long do short acting insulins work for and when is their peak activity?
Duration of action: 4 - 8 hours
Peak activity: 2 - 4 hours
What type of insulin is intermediate acting?
Intermediate acting = Isophane insulin (i,i)
Human isophane insulin usually used
Isophane insulin is a suspension of Insulin with protamine: bovine porcine or human insulin in the form of a complex obtained by the addition of protamine
Usually found in biphasic preparations
Can you think of any brands of Intermediate acting insulins?
Isophane insulins:
Insulatard®
Humulin I®
(all of the i’s!)
When should intermediate acting (isophane) insulins be injected?
They usually need to be injected twice daily, sometime once daily in eldery
No need to inject with meals
They have a peak action at 4 - 12 hour and last for around 21 hours
What are the three types of long- acting insulins? Do you know their brand names?
Insulin Detemir Levemir®
Insulin Glargine Lantus ®
Insulin Degludec Tresiba®
How long do the long-acting insulins usually work for?
Which one works for up to 42 hours?
around 18 - 24 hours
42 hours: Degludec (tresiba)