Interní Med. 2010; 12(11): 531-534

Insulin regimens from a clinical perspective

MUDr.Pavlína Piťhová

Interní klinika 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha

In order to provide insulin delivery, it is advisable to use a certain combination of various insulin preparations. Essentially, insulin

regimens can be divided into conventional (= administration of 1 or 2 injections/day of depot insulin or of a mixture of depot and shortacting

insulin) and intensified (= administration of 3 and more daily injections of short-acting and depot insulin + self-monitoring and

other measures) ones. Intensified insulin regimens also include the treatment with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion using

an insulin pump. Selecting a particular type of insulin regimen depends on the levels of glycaemia in a particular patient – fasting hyperglycaemia

will most likely be managed by administering basal insulin at 10 pm whereas postprandial variation in glycaemia is best

managed by administering short-acting human insulin or a short-acting insulin analogue before the meal. There are numerous options

when selecting an insulin regimen. No matter which option is chosen, metabolic compensation is almost invariably achieved; however,

optimal control can only be achieved when the pathophysiological principles and individualisation of treatment are taken into account

in particular patients.

Keywords: insulin, conventional insulin regimen, intensified insulin regimen, insulin analogue

Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation