Effect of the insulin analogue [LYS(B28),PRO(B29)] on blood glucose control

The limitations of conventional regular insulin in intensive insulin therapy are the slow onset of action and the long duration of action. To overcome these problems, the short-acting human insulin analogue [LYS(B28),PRO(B29)] (LYSPRO) was developed. In short-term and long-term clinical trials in healthy volunteers and diabetic patients, the difference in the time-action profile compared to regular insulin could be confirmed. Using LYSPRO without any injection-meal interval leads to reduced postprandial glucose excursions, even compared to the use of regular human insulin 30 minutes prior to the meal. Despite administration of LYSPRO immediately prior to meals, long-term blood glucose did not worsen. In additional studies it was shown that during exercise 3 hours after a meal, the fall of blood glucose was less pronounced in patients treated with LYSPRO as compared to regular human insulin. Thresholds for counterregulatory hormone responses to hypoglycemia were not different in volunteers when hypoglycemia was induced by either pork insulin or human insulin or LYSPRO. A short-acting human insulin analogue like LYSPRO may allow to simulate physiological postprandial insulin levels more closely. Treatment with LYSPRO may improve quality of life of diabetics by providing more flexibility.