In the treatment of diabetes, injections of artificial insulin are used. This is a chemical component, the effect of which is similar to natural hormone.
The pharmaceutical market is full of drugs that affect the body as a natural substance. People need to know how these drugs differ, what nuances of use they have, as well as their cost. This will help you choose the most suitable tool.
Classification
All insulins are divided into certain groups in accordance with the time of influence:
- Ultra-short-acting insulin - begins to work after ten to fifteen minutes. For example, Aspart, Penfill, Lizpro.
- Short impact. It begins to act after half an hour, reaches its maximum level in two hours, the total time varies from four to six hours: "Actrapid", "Farmasulin N".
- Medium duration - after 1.5 hours, blood sugar begins to decline, 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 is manifested after half an hour, the peak reaches from 2 to 8 hours from the time of use, twenty hours are valid. For example, Mikstard, Novomiks, 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 from 36 to 42 hours - Tresiba.
What are the differences between these medicines
The use of insulin analogues for the treatment of diabetes is a common medical care. Chemical drugs reduce blood glucose and lead to stable performance.
Advantages of substitutes:
- ease of use;
- security;
- injections and the natural production of hormone by the pancreas can be combined;
- 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, and they have a need for additional use of artificial insulin.
In diabetes of the first type, there is sometimes the need to replace one medication with another. This need can be seen by the following signs:
- rapid decrease in visual acuity;
- feeling unwell;
- violation of the functioning of organ systems;
- sudden changes in blood glucose.
In addition, chemical analogues of insulin help to avoid the occurrence of adverse reactions.
Cons of the introduction of natural insulin:
- long wait for a positive action;
- long duration of work.
The following insulins are most famous:
- Penfill - Levemire.
- "Detemir".
- Humalog - Lizpro.
- Aspart.
- Gluzilin - Apidra.
- "Actrapid".
- Lantus.
Next, the most effective drugs 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 performance.
Ways to use the medicine:
- 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 is determined by a medical specialist.
Benefits:
- you can use the medication before eating food or immediately after it;
- the drug can be administered intravenously.
Prohibitions on the use of medication:
- low blood sugar
- allergic manifestations to the substance of the drug.
When treated with this insulin substitute, the following side effects may appear:
- Hypoglycemia (a pathology that is characterized by a decrease in blood glucose below normal).
- Hypoglycemic coma (an acute disease that is caused by a sharp, rapid decrease in the amount of glucose in the blood).
- Death as a result of a coma.
- Urticaria (a skin disease characterized by the appearance of severely itchy blisters).
- Allergic rashes.
- Decreased blood pressure.
- Respiratory failure.
- Quincke's edema (an acute developing disease, which is characterized by the occurrence of clearly limited angioteki of the skin, as well as subcutaneous tissue).
The price of the Humalogue varies from 1800 to 2000 rubles.
Lantus
The active component of the drug is insulin glargine. It is produced in the form of a solution for injections. Inside the ampoule, a clear solution without color. This is a long-acting insulin.
According to the instructions for use, this substitute is not recommended for use with:
- Allergic reactions to Lantus ingredients.
- Pregnancy
- Children under six years old.
The drug can provoke negative effects during therapy. They are the same for all insulin analogues - poor eyesight, rashes on the skin or hives, a sharp decrease in blood sugar.
The dosage of the drug and the regimen are determined by the doctor. If a person replaces Lantus with another insulin preparation, then you need to consult a doctor to adjust the concentration of the drug.
It is not recommended to change the prescribed dosage. This can cause dangerous consequences. Lantus should not be mixed with other insulin generics. The price of the drug is 4500 rubles.
Levemir
The drug is considered a long-acting insulin. According to the instructions for use, the drug has the following effects on metabolic processes:
- Activates the transport of glucose into the cell.
- Accelerates tissue absorption of glucose molecules from the blood.
- 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 up to two years old. When used in women during an "interesting situation", no negative effect on the fetus and health of the newborn was revealed, 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, its use does not cause a strong decrease in blood sugar.
The medication belongs to the group of prolonged exposure insulin. Injections are carried out once or twice a day. The frequency of use is determined by the severity of the disease.
According to the instructions for use, when using the drug, the following adverse reactions may develop:
- A sharp decrease in blood glucose.
- Hypoglycemic coma (an extreme condition of the thyroid gland that develops as a result of a sharp decrease in blood sugar).
- Fatal outcome.
- Nervousness.
- Anxiety.
- Feeling of fear.
- Loss of sleep.
- Impaired attention.
- Visual diseases.
- Rashes on the skin and urticaria.
- Swelling at the injection site.
- Diabetic retinopathy (damage to the organs of vision that develops as a result of general vascular damage in diabetes mellitus and is considered one of the serious complications of diabetes mellitus).
In addition, people who use this substitute have weight gain during treatment.
Despite the fact that the drug is effective throughout the day, it must be used twice a day to reduce and maintain sugar levels. 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 glulisin. The medication begins to act ten to fifteen minutes after application.
This is a recombinant substitute for human insulin, equal in strength to the effect, but has a faster and less lasting effect. The effect of the drug is aimed at:
- increased activity of glucose uptake by cells;
- decreased sugar in the liver.
The drug is recommended for use by patients with the first and second type of diabetes. Like other generics of insulin, the drug has prohibitions on use. It is not advisable to use it for allergic manifestations of the substance and the initial low sugar level.
According to the instructions, Apidra is used for the treatment of diabetes, which requires insulin treatment for children from six years old, as well as adolescents and adults.
Restrictions on the use of:
- Hypoglycemia (a condition of the body that is characterized by a decrease in blood glucose).
- Children under six years old.
- Increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
Adverse Reactions:
- Loss of sleep.
- Impaired attention.
- Allergy.
- Hives.
- Psycho-emotional stress.
- Tremor of the extremities (involuntary as well as rhythmic oscillatory movements of the body, which are provoked by muscle contractions and are associated with a time delay of correcting signals).
- Nausea.
- Severe headaches.
- Decrease in visual acuity.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Death.
This insulin analogue is absorbed by the cells twice as fast as the natural hormone. Subsequently, the positive effect is achieved somewhat faster.
With special care, Apidra is prescribed for women with an "interesting position." People with liver disease may need a dose reduction 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 insulin nerve endings. Subsequently, the movement of glucose molecules through the cell membranes is accelerated. Blood sugar levels decrease and the patient's condition stabilizes. The drug is suitable for people who have the first type of diabetes.
This is an analogue of the human hormone, which has a short action. The active substance is insulin aspart.
When treating women in the “position” with type 1 diabetes, the drug does not adversely affect the course of pregnancy or the health of the baby.
This is ultra short-acting insulin. The following conditions are considered contraindications to the drug:
- low blood glucose
- allergic reactions to the substance of the drug;
- children under six years old;
- pregnancy;
- lactation.
When using the drug, side effects in the functioning of the visual and nervous systems can develop.
The drug is a fast-acting substitute for insulin. Dosage is determined by a medical specialist individually and in accordance with the needs of the patient.
Administration Methods:
- injections with a syringe into subcutaneous fat;
- syringe pen injections;
- using insulin pumps;
- intravenously.
It is not recommended to use several drugs at the same time as Penfill when administered through a pump.
In the first stages of treatment, it is necessary to abandon driving and from activities that require increased attention. As a rule, the medicine is used simultaneously with medium-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 an incorrect 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 with Actrapid, it is known that in most cases the following symptoms occur:
- nausea;
- severe drowsiness;
- dry mouth
- gagging;
- hyperemia of the skin (an increase in blood flow to any part of the body, resulting in severe redness of the epidermis);
- loss of appetite;
- thirst;
- increased urine output.
According to the instructions for use with Actrapid, it is known that if people do not eliminate hyperglycemia of type 1 diabetes, the appearance of diabetic ketoacidosis (an acute complication of diabetes mellitus) is likely.
Patients who plan to fly with time zones should consult a doctor about the Aktrapid treatment regimen, as they will have to change the time they eat and use 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, people with diabetes are always given a low-carb diet that lowers their glucose intake.
But, besides this, the main role is played by products with natural insulin. This substance can affect glucose concentration and lower it, as it is considered a generic of insulin, which produces the pancreas. Its second name is phytoinsulin.
Products that stimulate the production of natural hormone in humans:
- Beef.
- A fish.
- Beans
- Eggplant.
- Kefir, cottage cheese.
- Steamed carrots.
- Broccoli.
- Oats
- Brown rice
- Spinach.
For each type of food that has a compound that increases hormone production, the insulin index is slightly more than the glycemic index. This ratio is the main condition for selecting a diet.
Conclusion
If we compare the pharmacokinetic features of the drugs in question, then their appointment as a treating doctor is justified in case of diabetes mellitus of both the first and second types. A significant difference between these insulins is the absence of weight gain during therapy and a decrease in the number of nightly glucose drops in the blood.
In addition, it is necessary to note the need for only one administration throughout the day, which is somewhat more convenient for patients. Particularly high is the effectiveness of a substitute for human insulin in combination with metformin for patients with the second type of diabetes. Studies have shown a significant decrease in nightly jumps in sugar. This helps stabilize your daily blood glucose.