Insulin aspart: rapid control for postmeal glucose excursions

Abstract

Insulin aspart is a rapid-acting insulin analog that can be used to control prandial glucose levels as part of basal–bolus therapy, in continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs. Compared with exogenous human soluble insulin, insulin aspart has a faster onset of action, a higher peak concentration and a shorter duration of action, and is therefore more comparable to the physiological prandial insulin response. Randomized clinical trials have shown efficacy and safety advantages with insulin aspart over human soluble insulin, in particular, improved postprandial glucose control and lower rates of hypoglycemia. Currently, insulin aspart has been approved for use not only in adults and children with diabetes mellitus, but also for pregnant women with diabetes, including those with gestational diabetes.

Keywords::

• diabetes mellitus
• hyperglycemia
• hypoglycemia
• insulin analog
• insulin aspart

Financial disclosure

Jens Sandahl Christiansen has received fees for speaking at international symposia, unrestricted funds for research and fees from consulting from Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Novartis and Ferring.