Insulin lispro: a useful advance in insulin therapy

Insulin lispro, the first insulin analogue to be used clinically, was engineered to incorporate the pharmacological advantages of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which has a reduced tendency to self associate, compared to conventional soluble insulin. It is absorbed more quickly following a subcutaneous injection, reaching peak concentrations (approximately twice as much as conventional insulin) and then falls more rapidly. These more physiological insulin profiles are reflected in the results of clinical trials involving patients with Type 1 diabetes, which generally show comparable glycaemic control but reduced rates of hypoglycaemia, particularly at night. The reduction in the rate of hypoglycaemia in the early trials has been generally fairly modest, but more recent publications suggest that increasing experience and more individualised insulin adjustment may lead to a greater impact. Other indications include its use in continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and postprandially in young children.