What is Apidra (glulisine insulin)?
Apidra is an injectable insulin that is used to control blood sugar in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus can be defined as a group of the medical conditions that include type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Apidra contains the human-made substance insulin glulisine, which works similarly to the natural hormone produced by the beta cells. Insulin is the hormone produced by beta cells that helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
Apidra is a fast-acting insulin, meaning that after injecting this drug, it works very quickly to reduce high levels of blood sugar. However, compared to regular insulin, insulin glulisine only lasts for a short while. Therefore, it might only be suitable for certain diabetic patients. This medication is normally prescribed together with long-acting and intermediate-acting insulin.
Apidra insulin peak times, onset and duration of action
Insulin drugs are usually classified according to how fast they work in the body to control blood sugar levels. Apidra is a fast-acting insulin that starts to work quickly after injecting it under the skin. To understand how insulin glulisine works, it is important you know the meaning of onset, peak time, and duration. Onset refers to how fast insulin glulisine works to reduce high levels of blood sugar.
Peak time is when this insulin is hits its maximum effect. Duration is the length of time insulin glulisine keeps working in the body to control blood sugar. The onset of Apidra is about 15 minutes while its peak time is 1 hour. The duration of this insulin drug is 2 to 4 hours.