Insulin glulisine: a faster onset of action compared with insulin lispro

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2007 Sep;9(5):746-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2007.00746.x. Epub 2007 Jun 26.

Abstract

Aim: This randomized, single-centre, double-blind, crossover study compared the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of two different doses of insulin glulisine (glulisine) and insulin lispro (lispro) in lean to obese subjects.

Methods: Eighty subjects without diabetes, stratified into four body mass index (BMI) classes (<25, >or=25 to <30, >or=30 to <35 and >or=35 kg/m(2)), were randomized to receive single injections of glulisine and lispro (0.2 and 0.4 U/kg) on four study days under glucose clamp conditions. Glucose infusion rates (GIR) and insulin (INS) concentrations were assessed for 10 h postdose.

Results: Glulisine showed a greater early metabolic action than lispro [GIR-area under the curve (GIR-AUC) between 0 and 1 h (0.2 U/kg: 102.3 +/- 75.1 vs. 83.1 +/- 72.8 mg/kg, p < 0.05; 0.4 U/kg: 158.0 +/- 100.0 vs. 112.3 +/- 70.8 mg/kg, p < 0.001)], with an earlier time to 10% of total GIR-AUC (0.2 U/kg: 1.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.4 h; 0.4 U/kg: 1.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.3 h, p < 0.05). The total metabolic effect was not different between the two insulins. In accordance with these findings, the time to 10% of total INS-AUC was faster with glulisine compared with lispro at either dose (0.2 U/kg: 0.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2 h; 0.4 U/kg: 0.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2 h, p < 0.001). The faster rise in insulin concentrations and the earlier onset of activity of glulisine vs. lispro was consistently observed in each individual BMI class.

Conclusions: Glulisine shows a faster onset of action than lispro, independent of BMI and dose.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fasting / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glucose Clamp Technique / methods
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Insulin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Insulin / pharmacokinetics
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Insulin Lispro
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Lispro
  • insulin glulisine