Insulin Overview and Pharmacokinetics

What is one key advantage of using insulin over other antihyperglycemic agents?

Which of the following is NOT a common disadvantage of insulin therapy?

Which insulin concentration is most commonly used?

What determines the pharmacokinetics of different insulin products?

What type of insulin is reserved for patients with extreme insulin resistance?

Insulin Overview

Endogenous insulin moves glucose from the blood into cells, lowering serum glucose levels.
Exogenous insulin is used for hyperglycemia, categorized into Human Insulin and Insulin Analogues.
Human Insulin includes isophane (NPH) insulin and regular insulin.
Insulin Analogues include insulin aspart, lispro, glulisine, detemir, and glargine.

Advantages of Insulin

Achieves a wide range of glucose targets.
Dose can be individualized based on glycemic levels.

Disadvantages of Insulin

Risk of hypoglycemia.
Requires injections.
Potential weight gain.
Increased treatment burden.

Insulin Concentrations

Standard concentration is 100 units/mL (U-100).
Higher concentrations (U-200, U-300, U-500) are used for higher-dose needs.
U-500 regular insulin is a specialized option for patients with severe insulin resistance, typically administered twice or thrice daily.

Insulin Pharmacokinetics

Onset: How quickly insulin reduces blood sugar.
Peak Time: When insulin's effectiveness is highest.
Duration: How long insulin lowers blood sugar.

Explore the essential aspects of insulin, including its types, advantages, and disadvantages. This quiz covers endogenous and exogenous insulin along with their pharmacokinetics and usage considerations. Test your knowledge on insulin concentrations and their implications for patient care.