Insulin

Question 1

What are the characteristics of rapid-acting insulin?

Answer 1

Act faster and have shorter lasting effects (than soluble insulin)

Question 2

What’s a basal-bolus regimen?

Answer 2

• rapid/short-acting ‘bolus’ insulin before meals

WITH

• intermediate/long-acting ‘basal’ insulin once or twice daily

Question 3

What is a typical therapy with insulin?

Answer 3

Basal-bolus

Question 4

(2) names of rapid-acting insulin

Answer 4

• insulin aspart: NovoRapid
• insulin lispro: Humalog

Question 5

(2) names of short - acting insulin

Answer 5

soluble insulin examples:

• Actrapid
• Humulin S

Question 6

(1) type of immediate - release insulin

Answer 6

• isophane insulin

Question 7

(2) names of long-acting insulin

Answer 7

• insulin determir (Levemir): given once or twice daily
• insulin glargine (Lantus): given once daily

Question 8

What pre-mixed preparations contain in general?

Answer 8

combine intermediate-acting insulin with either a rapid-acting insulin analogue or soluble insulin

Question 9

Name (4) examples of pre-mixed preparations

Answer 9

• Novomix 30
• Humalog Mix25
• Humulin M3
• Insuman Comb 15

Question 10

Possible routes of administration of insulin

Answer 10

• SC- the majority of the patients, I rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy
• Insulin pumps - ‘continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions’ which delivers a continuous basal infusion and a patient-activated bolus dose at meal times
• Intravenous insulin - used for patients who are acutely unwell (e.g. DKA) w
• Inhaled insulin is available but not widely used
• Oral insulin analogues are in development but have considerable technical hurdles to clear