Regular insulin, also known as neutral insulin and soluble insulin, is a type of
short-acting medical insulin.
[ It is used to treat type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and complications of diabetes such as diabetic ketoacidosis and ]hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) is a complication of diabetes mellitus in which high blood sugar results in high osmolarity without significant ketoacidosis. Symptoms include signs of dehydration, weakness, leg cramps, vision problems, a ...
.muscle
Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as muscles) are organs of the vertebrate muscular system and typically are attached by tendons to bones of a skeleton. The muscle cells of skeletal muscles are much longer than in the other types of muscl ...
.[ Onset of effect is typically in 30 minutes and it typically lasts for 8 hours.][
The common side effect is low blood sugar.][ Other side effects may include pain or skin changes at the sites of injection, low blood potassium, and allergic reactions.][ Use during pregnancy is relatively safe for the baby.][ Regular insulin can be made from the pancreas of pigs or cows.][ Human versions can be made either by modifying pig versions or recombinant technology.][ In 2020, the combination of human insulin with insulin isophane was the 246th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2million prescriptions.
]
Medical uses
Regular insulin is used for the long-term management of diabetes.[ It is the treatment of choice for the two diabetic emergencies diabetic ketoacidosis and ]hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) is a complication of diabetes mellitus in which high blood sugar results in high osmolarity without significant ketoacidosis. Symptoms include signs of dehydration, weakness, leg cramps, vision problems, a ...
.[ It may also be used in combination with glucose to lower potassium levels in those with hyperkalemia.][
]
Side effects
Side effects may include: low blood sugar levels, skin reactions at the site of injection and low potassium
Hypokalemia is a low level of potassium (K+) in the blood serum. Mild low potassium does not typically cause symptoms. Symptoms may include fatigue (medical), feeling tired, Cramp, leg cramps, weakness, and constipation. Low potassium also increa ...
levels among others.[
]
Manufacture
Humulin, one brand name for a group of biosynthetic human insulin
Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the ''INS'' gene. It is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabolism o ...
products, is synthesized in a laboratory strain of ''Escherichia coli'' bacteria which has been genetically altered with recombinant DNA to produce biosynthetic human insulin. Humulin R consists of zinc-insulin crystals dissolved in a clear fluid.
Formulations
It is sold by many manufacturers in a number of different forms.
By Eli Lilly these include:
* Humulin R (REGULAR human insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is a short-acting insulin that has a relatively short duration of activity as compared with other insulins.
* Humulin R Regular U-500 (Concentrated) insulin human injection, USP (rDNA Origin) is a stronger concentration (500 units/mL) of Humulin R.
* Humulin 70/30 (70% human NPH insulin, insulin isophane suspension, 30% human insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is a mixture insulin. It is an intermediate-acting insulin combined with the onset of action of Humulin
* Humulin 50/50 (50% human NPH insulin, insulin isophane suspension, 50% human insulin injection [rDNA origin]) is a mixture insulin. It is an intermediate-acting insulin combined with the onset of action of Humulin R.
In UK these include:
References
External links
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