Insulins

Insulins bind insulin receptors, mainly on muscle and fat cells, which then take up more glucose from the blood. Insulin also stops the liver releasing glucose from stored glycogen, blocks the breakdown of fat and protein, builds protein, and moves potassium into cells. Preparations differ mainly in how fast they are absorbed and how long they act.

• Insulin glargineA basal insulin: its slow, steady absorption covers background needs, while a rapid- or short-acting insulin covers meals.
• Insulin lisproFaster in and faster out than regular insulin, so it is timed closer to meals; it is also the usual kind of insulin in pumps.
• Regular insulinStarts more slowly under the skin than rapid-acting analogues; by IV infusion it treats ketoacidosis and, with glucose, hyperkalemia.

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (by IV infusion)
• High potassium (hyperkalemia), given with glucose

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)Known forSerious
• Weight gainKnown for
• Fat lumps or hollows where injected (lipodystrophy)Known for
• Low potassium (hypokalemia)Serious
• Redness, itching or pain where injected
• Swelling from fluid retention (edema)
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)Serious
• Itching
• Rash
• Short-lived blurred vision as glucose control improves

What the class has in common. Each drug's card has its own, and Known for marks what an exam expects you to know.

• Missed meals, extra exercise, kidney or liver disease and other glucose-lowering drugs raise the risk of hypoglycemia.
• Beta blockers can blunt the warning signs of hypoglycemia, such as tremor and a fast heartbeat.
• With a thiazolidinedione such as pioglitazone, insulin can cause fluid retention and heart failure.
• Never share pens, needles or syringes between patients, even after changing the needle.

Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:

• Insulin human injection (short-acting): label (DailyMed)
• Insulin glargine injection: label (DailyMed)
• Insulin, Regular (NCI Thesaurus)
• Insulin (NHS)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (NHS)
• Soluble insulin and glucose infusion for acute hyperkalaemia (Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust)

For learning pharmacology, not for treatment decisions: no doses are given, and a prescriber, pharmacist or the product's own label is the word on any one patient. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.