regular insulin

insulin /in·su·lin/ (in´sdbobr-lin)

1. a protein hormone formed from proinsulin in the beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. The major fuel-regulating hormone, it is secreted into the blood in response to a rise in concentration of blood glucose or amino acids. Insulin promotes the storage of glucose and the uptake of amino acids, increases protein and lipid synthesis, and inhibits lipolysis and gluconeogenesis.

Insulin. The precursor proinsulin is cleaved internally at two sides (arrows) to yield insulin and C peptide.

2. a preparation of insulin, either of porcine or bovine origin or a recombinant form with sequence the same as or similar to that in humans, used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus; classified as rapid-acting, intermediate-acting, or long-acting on the basis of speed of onset and duration of activity.

3. regular insulin; a rapid-acting, unmodified form of insulin prepared from crystalline bovine or porcine insulin.

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insulin aspart  a rapid-acting analogue of human insulin created by recombinant DNA technology.

buffered insulin human  insulin human buffered with phosphate; used particularly in continuous infusion pumps.

extended insulin zinc suspension  a long-acting insulin consisting of porcine or human insulin in the form of large zinc-insulin crystals.

insulin glargine  an analogue of human insulin produced by recombinant DNA technology, having a slow, steady release over 24 hours.

insulin human  a protein corresponding to insulin elaborated in the human pancreas, derived from pork insulin by enzymatic action or produced synthetically by recombinant DNA techniques; sometimes used specifically to denote a rapid-acting regular insulin preparation of this protein.

isophane insulin suspension  an intermediate-acting insulin consisting of porcine or human insulin reacted with zinc chloride and protamine sulfate.

Lente insulin  insulin zinc suspension.

insulin lispro  a rapid-acting analogue of human insulin synthesized by means of recombinant DNA technology.

NPH insulin  isophane i. suspension.

prompt insulin zinc suspension  a rapid-acting insulin consisting of porcine insulin with zinc chloride added to produce a suspension of amorphous insulin.

regular insulin  insulin (3).

Semilente insulin  prompt insulin zinc suspension.

Ultralente insulin  extended insulin zinc suspension.

insulin zinc suspension  an intermediate-acting insulin consisting of porcine or human insulin with a zinc salt added such that the solid phase of the suspension contains a 7:3 ratio of crystalline to amorphous insulin.

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regular insulin,

a fast-acting insulin prescribed in the treatment of diabetes mellitus when the desired action is relatively prompt, intense, and short-acting. It can be mixed with long-acting forms of insulin. Regular insulin prepared from zinc insulin crystals is slightly longer-acting than the amorphous noncrystalline form of this type of insulin preparation. Insulin lispro, a slightly modified form of human insulin that is now widely used, has a faster onset and shorter duration of action than regular insulin.

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insulin (obtained from beef or pork, or human recombinant technology),

n brand names: Velosulin, Humulin R, Novolin R, Lente Insulin;
drug class: exogenous insulin, antidiabetic;
action: decreases blood glucose; important in regulation of fat and protein metabolism;
uses: ketoacidosis; type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus; hyperkalemia; hyperalimentation.

insulin, exogenous

n a type that comes from a source external to a diabetic patient's body, taken to offset the patient's natural deficiency of insulin.

insulin, intermediate-acting,

n a type that is a medium between rapid-acting and long-acting insulins; the onset is not as fast as rapid-acting insulin, but it reaches its peak action over a 4- to 12-hour period.

insulin, Lente

n.pr an intermediate-acting type that reaches its peak action over a 4- to 12-hour period.

insulin, Lispro,

n.pr a rapid-acting type that reaches its peak action in 30 to 90 minutes.

insulin, long-acting,

n a type that has a slow onset but reaches its peak action from 12 to 16 hours after administration.

insulin, NPH,

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Classified as intermediate acting; peak action occurs 4 to 10 hours after administering.

insulin, rapid-acting,

n a synthetic type of insulin used to treat diabetes. Reaches peak action 30 to 90 minutes after administering.

insulin, regular,

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Classified as short acting; peak action occurs 2 to 3 hours after administering.

insulin resistance,

n a complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by a need for more than 200 units of insulin per day to control hyperglycemia and ketosis. The cause is associated with insulin binding by high levels of antibody.

insulin shock,

n See shock, insulin.

insulin, short-acting,

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Reaches peak action 2 to 3 hours after administering. Also called
regular insulin.

insulin, ultralente

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Classified as long acting, with peak action occurring 12 to 16 hours after administering.

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Patient discussion about regular insulin.

Q. I've a chronic pain website & would love 2 get comments on how 2 make it better http://chronicpain.today.c

A. nice site! very useful! i liked the "freebies"...good idea. how about some links to videos about the subject? could be nice...

Q. When will a generic brand of insulin be available? The cost of insulin seems to be way too high... And with the ever rising population of diabetics, you'd think some other companies would jump unto the bandwagon with a cheaper insulin... what's up with that?

A. Unfortunately, as long as Eli Lilly has an effective monopoly on the American market and docs continue to perscribe the latest "flavor" of insulin, the situation is unlikely to change. Personally, I refuse to use Lilly's products (use Novo Nordisk insulin instead) and am still using the regular and NPH I was using 20 years ago... Also, because Type I diabetes tends to affect children, parents are naturally always seeking the next new thing. Doesn't make for an environment conducive to cheaper alternatives, which is a real shame for us all.

Q. is there an alternative for the Insulin shots? something less painful but yet effective as the old way?

A. Here is a good site on alternative insulin delivery: http://www.diabetes.org/for-parents-and-kids/diabetes-care/alternative-insulin.jsp Hope this helps.