Insulins

Insulin has been the cornerstone of diabetes therapy for over 75 years. Despite this long experience, insulin therapy remains as much distinguished by its limitations as its successes. Given the variety of insulin preparations that are currently available and the rapid rate of change in the principles of diabetes management, an in depth knowledge of the pharmacology of insulin is essential to providers who care for patients with diabetes. This article reviews the pharmacology of the currently available animal and human insulins, as well as the newly available human insulin analog, insulin lispro. The clinical aspects of insulin allergy and potential future advances in insulin analog development and routes of insulin administration are also explored.