The Absorption of an Acid and a Neutral Insulin Solution after Subcutaneous Injection into Different Regions in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Binder, C., Vølund Nielsen, Aa. & Jørgensen, K. The Absorption of an Acid and a Neutral Insulin Solution after Subcutaneous Injection into Different Regions in Diabetic Patients. Scand. J. din. Lab. Invest. 19, 156–163, 1967. ¹²⁵I-labelled insulin was prepared as two pharmaceutical insulins, Insulin Novo (SI) and Insulin Novo Actrapid (A). The insulins were administered subcutaneously into different regions in 196 diabetic patients and 9 normals. The absorption was measured by external registration of the radioactivity.

1) The variation within patients was less than between patients.

2) The physical acitivity was without influence on the course of absorption.

3) Within the same region A was always absorbed faster than SI.

4) No significant difference in the course of absorption could be shown between normals and diabetic patients.

5) For a given combination of insulin and region there was a great variation in the results obtained. When SI was given into the femoral region the rest activity 4 hours after the injection varied from 6 to 67 per cent.

6) The injected insulin was absorbed faster from the scapular and abdominal regions than from the femoral region.

7) The amounts of insulin absorbed per unit time were significantly correlated to the changes in blood sugar concentration.

8) Small variations in room temperature and relative humidity were without any influence on the course of absorption.

The data suggest that variations in the absorption rate of insulin may be an important factor for the lability in some diabetic patients.