In the treatment of diabetes, injections of artificial insulin are used. It is a chemical compound that acts like a natural hormone.
The pharmaceutical market is full of drugs that affect the body like a natural substance. People need to know how these medicines differ, what nuances of use they have, as well as their cost. This will help you choose the most suitable remedy.
Classification
All insulins are divided into certain groups according to the time of influence:
- Ultra-short-acting insulin - starts working after ten to fifteen minutes. For example, "Aspart", "Penfill", "Lizpro".
- Short impact. Begins to act after half an hour, reaches a maximum level after two hours, the total time varies from four to six hours: "Actrapid", "Farmasulin N".
- Medium duration - after 1.5 hours, sugar begins to decreasein the blood, the peak comes after four to eleven hours, the positive effect lasts from 12 to 18 hours. These are the following drugs: "Insuman Rapid", "Protafan", "Vozulim".
- Combined exposure - activity appears after half an hour, the peak reaches from 2 to 8 hours from the moment of application, it lasts twenty hours. For example, Mixtard, Novomix, Farmasulin.
- Prolonged exposure - acts after four to six hours, reaches a maximum after ten to eighteen hours, the total duration of influence is up to one day. This includes Levemir.
- Ultra-long insulin lasts 36 to 42 hours - Tresiba.
What are the differences between these medicines
The use of insulin analogues for the treatment of diabetes mellitus is a common medical care. Chemical drugs reduce blood glucose and lead to stable levels.
Benefits of substitutes:
- ease of use;
- security;
- you can combine injections and the natural production of the hormone by the pancreas;
- quick effect.
People who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes take pills in the first stages of therapy. But with the development of the disease, they also need additional use of artificial insulin.
In type 1 diabetes, too, sometimes there is a need to replace one medication with another. This need cannotice by the following signs:
- rapid decrease in visual acuity;
- not feeling well;
- impaired functioning of organ systems;
- blood glucose spikes.
In addition, chemical analogues of insulin help to avoid the occurrence of adverse reactions.
Cons of natural insulin:
- long wait for positive action;
- long running time.
The most famous insulins are:
- Penfill v Levemir.
- "Detemir".
- "Humalog" - "Lizpro".
- "Aspart".
- Gluzilin - Apidra.
- "Actrapid".
- "Lantus".
Next, the most effective medicines will be considered.
Humalog
The active component of Humalog is insulin lispro. It reduces the level of free glucose in the blood and stabilizes the indicators.
Medication uses:
- injection;
- infusion (using a special pump).
According to the instructions for use, the dosage of Humalog, the duration of therapy and the mode of administration are determined by a medical specialist.
Benefits:
- you can use the medication before eating or immediately after it;
- drug can be administered intravenously.
Prohibitions on the use of drugs:
- low blood sugar;
- allergic manifestations to drug substances.
The following side effects may occur during treatment with this insulin substitute:
- Hypoglycemia (a pathology characterized by a decrease in blood glucose below normal).
- Hypoglycemic coma (an acute illness caused by a sudden and rapid decrease in the amount of glucose in the blood).
- Death due to coma.
- Hives (a skin condition characterized by intensely itchy blisters).
- Allergic rashes.
- Reduce blood pressure.
- Respiratory failure.
- Quincke's edema (an acutely developing disease, which is characterized by the appearance of a clearly limited angioedema of the skin, as well as subcutaneous tissue).
The price of "Humalog" varies from 1800 to 2000 rubles.
Lantus
The active ingredient of the drug is insulin glargine. Produced in the form of a solution for injections. Inside the ampoule is a clear solution without color. This is long-acting insulin.
According to the instructions for use, this substitute is not recommended for:
- Allergic reactions to Lantus ingredients.
- Pregnancy.
- Children under six.
The drug may cause adverse effects during therapy. They are the same for all insulin analogues - poor vision,rashes on the skin or hives, a sharp decrease in blood sugar.
The dosage of the medication and the treatment regimen is determined by the doctor. If a person replaces Lantus with another insulin preparation, then a doctor should be consulted to adjust the concentration of the drug.
It is not recommended to change the prescribed dosage. This can lead to dangerous consequences. "Lantus" should not be mixed with other insulin generics. The price of the drug is 4500 rubles.
Levemir
The drug is considered long-acting insulin. According to the instructions for use, the drug has the following effect on metabolic processes:
- Activates the transport of glucose into the cell.
- Accelerating the absorption of glucose molecules from the blood by tissues.
- Stimulates the formation of fat and glycogen.
- Suppresses the synthesis of glucose in the liver.
Due to the lack of information about the safety of using Levemir, it should not be given to patients under two years of age. When used in women during an "interesting situation", no negative effect on the fetus and the he alth of the newborn was found, the drug does not provoke the development of defects.
A plus is the constancy of the content of the drug in the blood throughout the entire period of exposure. Therefore, when using it, there is no strong decrease in blood sugar.
The drug belongs to the group of long-acting insulins. The injections are carried out once or twice a day. The frequency of application is determined by the severity of the disease.
According to the instructions for use, the use of the drug may develop the following adverse reactions:
- Dramatic decrease in blood glucose.
- Hypoglycemic coma (an extreme condition of the thyroid gland that develops as a result of a sharp drop in blood sugar).
- Fat.
- Nervousness.
- Anxiety.
- Feeling afraid.
- Loss of sleep.
- Attention disorder.
- Visual diseases.
- Skin rashes and hives.
- Swelling at the injection site.
- Diabetic retinopathy (eye damage that develops as a result of general vascular damage in diabetes mellitus and is considered one of the severe complications of diabetes).
In addition, people who use this substitute have experienced weight gain with treatment.
Despite the fact that the drug works throughout the day, it must be applied twice a day to reduce and maintain the level of sugar. If insulin is administered in combination with short insulins, then it is used in the morning and evening with a time interval of twelve hours. The cost of the drug varies from 2900 to 3300 rubles.
Apidra
The active ingredient is insulin glulisine. The drug begins to act ten to fifteen minutes after application.
Thisrecombinant human insulin substitute, equal in strength to it, but has a faster and less lasting effect. The effect of the drug is directed to:
- increased activity of glucose uptake by cells;
- lower sugar in the liver.
The drug is recommended for use in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Like other insulin generics, the drug has prohibitions on use. It is not recommended for use in allergic manifestations to substances and initial low sugar levels.
According to the instructions, "Apidra" is used to treat diabetes, which requires insulin treatment in children from six years old, as well as adolescents and adults.
Restrictions for use:
- Hypoglycemia (a condition of the body characterized by low blood glucose levels).
- Children under six.
- Increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
Adverse reactions:
- Loss of sleep.
- Deterioration of attention.
- Allergy.
- Urticaria.
- Psychoemotional stress.
- Tremor of the limbs (involuntary as well as rhythmic oscillatory movements of the body, which are provoked by muscle contractions and are associated with a temporary delay in corrective signals).
- Nausea.
- Severe headaches.
- Decrease in visual acuity.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Death.
This insulin analogue is absorbed into cells twice as fast as the natural hormone. Subsequentlythe positive effect is achieved somewhat faster.
With extreme caution, "Apidra" is prescribed for the "interesting position" of a woman. People with liver disease may need to reduce the dose as a result of a slowdown in insulin metabolism. The cost of the drug ranges from 1900 to 2300 rubles.
Novorapid Penfill
The effect of this drug is directed to the insulin nerve endings. Subsequently, there is an acceleration of the movement of glucose molecules through cell membranes. The blood sugar level decreases and the patient's condition stabilizes. The drug is suitable for people who have type 1 diabetes.
This is an analogue of the human hormone, which has a short action. The active ingredient is insulin aspart.
When treating women in "position" with type 1 diabetes, the drug does not adversely affect the course of pregnancy or the he alth of the baby.
This is an ultra-short acting insulin. The following conditions are considered contraindications to the drug:
- low blood glucose;
- allergic reactions to drug substances;
- children under six;
- pregnancy;
- lactation.
When using the drug, side effects in the functioning of the visual and nervous systems may develop.
The drug is a fast-acting insulin substitute. Dosing is determined by a medical specialist on an individual basis.and according to the needs of the patient.
Introduction methods:
- injections with a syringe into the subcutaneous fat;
- pen injections;
- using insulin pumps;
- intravenously.
It is not recommended to use several drugs simultaneously with Penfill when administered through a pump.
In the first stages of treatment, it is necessary to give up driving and activities that require increased attention. As a rule, the drug is used simultaneously with intermediate-duration insulin, which is used at least once a day. The cost of the drug starts from 1600 rubles.
Actrapid
This is short acting insulin. With the wrong dosage, there is a possibility of hyperglycemia, especially in patients with type 1 diabetes. The first signs of this complication, as a rule, do not appear immediately, but over several hours or days.
According to the instructions for use for "Actrapid" it is known that in most cases the following symptoms occur:
- nausea;
- expressed drowsiness;
- dry mouth;
- vomiting;
- skin hyperemia (increased blood flow to any part of the body, resulting in severe reddening of the epidermis);
- loss of appetite;
- thirst;
- increased urine output.
According to the instructions for use forActrapid is aware that if hyperglycemia is not corrected in people with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis (an acute complication of diabetes) is likely to occur.
Patients who are planning a cross-time flight should consult their doctor about the Actrapid regimen, as they will need to change the time of eating and taking the medication.
When changing the type of insulin, its type, as well as biological activity, the manufacturer may need to change the dosage. For this reason, the transfer of patients to another drug should be carried out under the supervision of a medical specialist.
If it is necessary to correct the concentration of the drug, this can be done both when using the first dosage, and in the first weeks, as well as months of treatment. The cost of the drug varies from 380 to 1100 rubles.
Natural insulin replacement
To reduce blood sugar levels, people with diabetes are always prescribed a low-carbohydrate diet that lowers glucose intake.
But besides this, products with natural insulin play the main role. This substance can affect the concentration of glucose and lower it, since it is considered a generic insulin that the pancreas produces. Its second name is phytoinsulin.
Foods that stimulate the production of a natural hormone in humans:
- Beef.
- Fish.
- Beans.
- Eggplant.
- Kefir, cottage cheese.
- Steamed carrots.
- Broccoli.
- Oats.
- Brown Rice
- Spinach.
Every food that has a compound that increases hormone production has an insulin index slightly higher than the glycemic index. This ratio is the main condition for choosing a diet.
Conclusion
If we compare the pharmacokinetic features of the drugs in question, then their appointment by the attending doctor is justified in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A significant difference between these insulins is the lack of weight gain during therapy and the reduction in the number of nocturnal blood glucose drops.
In addition, it should be noted that only one injection is required throughout the day, which is somewhat more convenient for patients. The effectiveness of a human insulin substitute in combination with metformin is especially high for patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown a significant reduction in nightly spikes in blood sugar. This helps stabilize your daily blood glucose levels.
