Drug reference

Insulin Human Regular

Short-acting human insulin · Antidiabetic

Also known as Soluble Insulin, Neutral Insulin, R insulin, Actrapid, Humulin R, Novolin R

START

Individualised; prandial SC 30 min pre-meal; DKA IV 0.1 unit/kg/h

TYPICAL MAX

No fixed ceiling — titrate to glucose targets

STOP IF

Hypoglycaemia (treat first), severe hypokalaemia during IV therapy

WATCH

Capillary/lab glucose, potassium (IV/DKA), injection sites, hypoglycaemia awareness

CDSCO approvedSchedule HJan AushadhiNPPA price-controlledATC A10AB01

Renal dose adjustmenteGFR mL/min/1.73m²

KDIGO 2024 + manufacturer label

Pharmacokineticsplasma · t hours

ONSET: 30min · SC onset
PEAK: 3h · SC peak
t½: 8min · IV plasma t½ (~8 min)
DURATION: 7h · SC duration

EXCRETION

Enzymatic degradation (hepatic/renal); little intact

route + CYP

INTERACTIONS

1 major

SEVERE in our sources

PREGNANCY

Preferred glucose-lowering therapy in pregnancy — safe, does not cross placenta significantly

FDA category + note

Top interactionssee all 5 →

Oral HypoglycaemicsSevereDatabaseKimi deep-research + Cla

Available in India

1 branded formulation and 43 fixed-dose combinations. Look up specific brands in the Drugs workspace.

Jan Aushadhi — generic available at GoI pharmacies

Mechanism

Recombinant human insulin binds the insulin receptor, promoting cellular glucose uptake (muscle/fat), glycogen/lipid/protein synthesis and suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipolysis; short-acting soluble form for prandial cover and IV use.

Indications

Diabetes mellitus (type 1 and 2) — prandial/correctionDiabetic ketoacidosis / hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (IV infusion)Hyperkalaemia (with glucose)Perioperative/critical-illness glycaemic control

Dosing

Adult: SC 30 min before meals; total daily insulin individualised (often ~0.5–1 unit/kg/day split). IV infusion for DKA (e.g. 0.1 unit/kg/h). Highly individualised.
Pediatric: Weight-based, individualised by specialist.
Renal adjustment: Reduced insulin clearance in renal impairment — lower requirements; titrate to glucose.
Hepatic adjustment: Variable requirements; titrate to glucose.
Geriatric: Lower/cautious targets to avoid hypoglycaemia.
Max dose: No fixed ceiling — titrated to glycaemic targets

Pharmacokinetics

Onset

SC ~30 min; IV immediate

Peak effect

SC ~2–4 h

Duration

SC ~5–8 h; IV minutes

Half-life

IV plasma ~5–9 min

Bioavailability

SC ~55–80%

Protein binding

Low

Metabolism

Hepatic and renal insulin-degrading enzyme

Excretion

Renal (degraded); little intact

Contraindications

Hypoglycaemia
Hypersensitivity to the insulin product/excipients

Side effects

Common

HypoglycaemiaWeight gainInjection-site lipohypertrophy/reactionsTransient oedema/blurred vision on initiation

Serious

Severe hypoglycaemia (coma, seizures)
Severe hypokalaemia
Severe hypersensitivity/anaphylaxis (rare)

Pregnancy & lactation

Pregnancy

Preferred glucose-lowering therapy in pregnancy — safe, does not cross placenta significantly

Lactation

Compatible — not orally bioavailable to infant; may need maternal dose reduction

Drug interactions

Oral Hypoglycaemics

Severe

Database

Additive hypoglycaemia

Reduce doses; monitor glucose