Plasma free insulin profiles after administration of insulin by jet and conventional syringe injection

Plasma free insulin profiles in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects were compared after jet and syringe injection of insulin. Jet injection of insulin resulted in a shift of the free insulin profile to the left. Thus higher plasma free insulin levels were found over the first 30 min after injection (P less than 0.05), while after 240 min plasma free insulin levels were lower than those seen following syringe injection (P less than 0.05). Significant differences in the response of blood glucose and 3-hydroxybutyrate levels reflected the differences in plasma free insulin levels. Jet administration results in more rapid absorption of insulin and could be useful in providing a more physiologic postprandial insulin profile than that seen after conventional injection.