Managing diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, has become easier because of the availability of different treatment options, and one of the most widely used treatments today is prandial insulin. With the advancement in medical science, various prandial insulins have been produced to support every diabetic individual’s basic needs. These preparations have unprecedented pharmacokinetic and unique pharmacodynamic attributes.
As mentioned, there are different varieties of prandial insulins. Some of these include aspart, lispro, glulisine and even regular human insulin. These varieties are utilized in different regimens, such as basal-bolus, basal plus, and of course, in the prandial treatment. These insulins are given intravenously and infusion pumps. Add to that that these classes are short-acting hormone insulins.
As defined, one single dose of insulin can provide a significant impact on the blood glucose levels of the body. It is a form of therapy that millions of individuals take advantage of. Prandial insulin is a form of diabetes therapy that involves the usage of several insulins to prevent episodes of glucose surge within the bloodstream.
Classifying the Varieties of Prandial Insulin
All the mentioned varieties of prandial insulin, such as aspart, lispro, glulisine, insulin aspart, and the regular human insulin, are classified as both fast-acting, ultrafast-acting, and rapid-acting insulin. They are classified depending on their origins and how these insulin types work as they are administered to the patient.
Aside from this aspect, they are also classified on their flexibility, most especially to ultrafast-acting insulins. Note that some insulins are injected before meals. It means monitoring the patient’s blood glucose levels before the insulin administration. Once the status of blood sugar is identified, it helps in recognizing which prandial insulin variety fits the patient during the entire treatment duration.
Prandial insulins that contain a high concentration of the said hormone are also accessible in the market today. One good example is the U500 amount of the regular insulin version. Because of the availability of these high-concentration insulins, the frequency of insulin injections and the pain people experience during its application becomes fewer and lesser, respectively.
It is also necessary to know that some of these insulins are biosimilars. Since there is no generic insulin available, pharmaceutical companies produce insulins similar to their original versions and are termed copycat insulins. With regards to its price, while copycat insulins are not relatively cheap, they are still cost-effective compared to their branded versions.
Furthermore, if diabetic individuals do not have the necessary means to afford a single dose of any of these prandial insulin varieties, they can apply for any available programs that the government has for PWD or people with diabetes. There are different benefit programs for PWD, including monthly allowances or even loans that they can apply for as long as they pass the needed qualifications.
Types of Prandial Insulin Administration
Intravenous Approach
One of the major approaches in prandial insulin administration is through an intravenous route. It involves a mixture of insulin to intravenous crystalline fluids. While this is very applicable, there are other types of prandial insulins that are not made for this approach. It means that some insulins cannot be mixed in intravenous fluids. It only deters the efficiency of the insulin, making the treatment less effective and nonsense. The physician’s assessment will still play an important role in deciding if this approach will work for the patient.
Subcutaneous Approach
This approach is done by injecting the insulin under the skin. The administration of prandial insulin using the subcutaneous approach must be performed before mealtime. Again, it will still include the monitoring of blood sugar levels before consuming food to know the amount of insulin to be administered. The most used type of insulin for this method is the human regular insulin. It must be injected 30 minutes before mealtime. Usually, the classification of insulin used is the fast-acting analogue.
Insulin Inhaled Approach
If diabetic individuals are afraid of needles and injections, prandial insulins that can be accessed through an inhaled approach are available. Some of the major types of inhaled prandial insulins are Exubera and Afrezza. These rapid-acting insulins are produced by two of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the USA, Pfizer and MannKind, respectively.
While these products are very much accessible and noteworthy in the field of medicine, they only stayed in the market for a short time. The main reasons include the side effects and other health concerns, such as pulmonary disease and cancer, that these insulin medications can yield to diabetic people.
Insulin Pumps Approach
For this specific approach, short-acting insulins are used. The dose is identified based on the pump buttons as they are pressed during meal times. The ratio of carbohydrate level is also noted to ensure that the right amount of prandial insulin is administered. This process is to ensure that the patient is safe to use and apply his/her daily dosage. Of all the available methods in using prandial insulins, insulin pumps and subcutaneous approaches are the most common that people with diabetes make use of.
Takeaway
Usually, after a hospital setting kind of treatment, patients will be instructed to take his/her daily insulin treatment to avoid a surge in their blood sugar levels. The amount of insulin to be consumed will depend on the result of blood glucose monitoring. It means that regular monitoring of the status of glucose level in the body is a must to ensure that the volume of insulin to be injected into the body will not affect the condition, or worse, trigger other health complications.
Prandial insulin regimen plays a vital role in people with diabetes as it follows the right classification of insulin to be administered. Without this type of therapy, it becomes difficult to treat diabetes and will only cause other medical concerns to emerge and harm the entire body system. Furthermore, diabetic individuals must always ensure that they are following the right treatment since diabetes is not just a disease but also a life-threatening medical condition. Following the doctor’s advice and prescription helps a lot in their journey to recovery.
