Insulin

Metabolic

aka Regular human insulin · Humulin R · Novolin R

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Formula

MW (Da)

Half-life

~5 min (IV regular); ~2 hours (SC regular)

Saves

Overview

"Insulin" is a drug class, not one marketed compound. There are multiple human insulins and engineered analogs, with formulation-specific kinetics, dosing, and storage rules. The hormone is essential for survival in type 1 diabetes and a core escalation step in type 2 diabetes. Representative regular human insulin labels (Humulin R, Novolin R) anchor the safety and pharmacology summary here.

Mechanism

Insulin acts through the insulin receptor to regulate glucose metabolism. Approved labels state that insulin lowers blood glucose by increasing peripheral glucose uptake in muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production; it also suppresses lipolysis and proteolysis and promotes protein synthesis. Mechanistic reviews further tie this to receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and GLUT4 translocation. Pharmacokinetics differ dramatically across formulations: short / rapid (regular, lispro, aspart, glulisine), intermediate (NPH), and long-acting basal (glargine, detemir, degludec).

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Reported benefits

Essential therapy in type 1 diabetes

Insulin replacement is essential in type 1 diabetes. ADA standards report total daily insulin requirements commonly in the 0.4–1.0 units/kg/day range, distributed across basal and prandial components.

[insulin-ada-standards]

clinical

Type 2 diabetes escalation therapy

Insulin is widely used in type 2 diabetes escalation, with common basal starts of 10 units/day or 0.1–0.2 units/kg/day, titrated to fasting glucose targets while monitoring for hypoglycemia.

[insulin-ada-standards]

clinical

Mechanism: insulin receptor, GLUT4, hepatic suppression

Insulin lowers blood glucose by increasing peripheral glucose uptake (GLUT4 translocation in muscle and fat) and inhibiting hepatic glucose production, while also suppressing lipolysis and proteolysis and promoting protein synthesis.

[insulin-humulinr-label]

clinical

Reported side effects

Hypoglycemia is the dominant risk
clinical
Hypoglycemia is the dominant clinical risk, including severe events requiring emergency treatment. Risk is amplified by missed meals, exercise, alcohol, sulfonylureas, and tight glycemic targets.
Hypokalemia, weight gain, edema
clinical
Insulin drives potassium intracellularly and can cause hypokalemia. Weight gain and edema are common with intensified or new insulin therapy.
Lipodystrophy, cutaneous amyloidosis, allergy, medication errors
clinical
Repeated injection at the same site can cause lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Allergy and antidrug antibodies occur. Medication errors from wrong-product substitution (look-alike pens, U-100 vs U-500) are a recognized safety hazard.

Dosing notes

Dosing is inherently individualized. Type 1 diabetes typically totals 0.4–1.0 units/kg/day across basal and prandial components. Type 2 diabetes basal often starts at 10 units/day or 0.1–0.2 units/kg/day. Regular human insulin (Humulin R) is dosed 30 minutes before eating; intravenous regular insulin is restricted to monitored clinical settings. Always defer to the specific formulation label.

Research use only. Information on this page is editorial reference, not medical or dosing advice. Always consult qualified medical guidance before use.

Storage

Storage is brand- and formulation-specific. Humulin R vials are protected from heat and light, not frozen, and held at room temperature for a total of 31 days once opened. Novolin R allows unopened refrigerated storage until expiration or room-temperature storage up to 42 days; opened vials are kept at room temperature and discarded after 42 days. Other insulins (analogs, mixed, pens) have their own storage rules — always check the specific label.

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Discussion

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References

[insulin-humulinr-label]
Humulin R (regular human insulin) prescribing information
Eli Lilly · DailyMed
Source
[insulin-ada-standards]
ADA Standards of Care: Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment
American Diabetes Association · Diabetes Care
Source

Reported benefits

Essential therapy in type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes escalation therapy

Mechanism: insulin receptor, GLUT4, hepatic suppression

Hypoglycemia is the dominant risk

Hypokalemia, weight gain, edema

Lipodystrophy, cutaneous amyloidosis, allergy, medication errors

Discussion