Absorption kinetics and action profiles of mixtures of short-and intermediate-acting insulins

Abstract

The effects of mixing short- and intermediate-acting insulins (lente and NPH) on plasma insulin levels and action profiles, assessed by the euglycaemic clamp technique, were studied in 10 volunteers. Four protocols were used: (1) comparison between two semi-synthetic human soluble insulins in seven subjects (0.22 IU/kg); (2) assessment of insulin levels and action profiles of lente insulin in six subjects and of NPH insulin in five subjects (0.33 IU/kg); (3) comparison between mixtures of soluble with lente insulin and soluble with NPH insulin, administered immediately after mixing, in eight subjects (0.55IU/kg, 40% short-acting); (4) same mixtures, administered 2 days after preparation, in seven subjects. No differences in insulin levels and action profiles during the first 4 h after injection were found between both short-acting insulins and the soluble + NPH insulin mixtures. After the administration of NPH insulin, plasma insulin levels rose slightly faster in comparison with lente insulin, with no significant differences between the action profiles for either insulin. Onset of action was delayed after soluble + lente insulin, both when administered immediately after mixing and to a greater extent when stored for 2 days before administration. After the latter procedure, the onset of action was markedly retarded and only slightly faster than after lente insulin alone. We conclude, therefore, that mixing soluble with NPH insulin in a ratio of 2:3 does not affect the absorption kinetics of soluble insulin, whereas the onset of action is delayed when soluble is combined in the syringe with lente insulin, even when administered immediately after mixing.