GITNUXREPORT 2026

Insulin Statistics

Insulin's life-saving discovery and production revolutionized diabetes care globally.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Insulin structure was fully sequenced in 1951 by Sanger, identifying 51 amino acids.

Statistic 2

Human insulin consists of A-chain (21 amino acids) and B-chain (30 amino acids) linked by 2 disulfide bonds.

Statistic 3

Insulin's molecular weight is 5808 Da for the monomer.

Statistic 4

Insulin forms hexamers in zinc presence at neutral pH, with 3 zinc ions per hexamer.

Statistic 5

The A7-B7 disulfide bond is conserved across all vertebrate insulins.

Statistic 6

Insulin's isoelectric point is 5.35, affecting solubility.

Statistic 7

Proinsulin has 86 amino acids, with C-peptide of 31 amino acids excised.

Statistic 8

Insulin's B-chain has 3 alpha helices, critical for receptor binding.

Statistic 9

The insulin monomer has a compact structure with 4 alpha helices and 3 disulfide bridges.

Statistic 10

Des-B30 insulin has 10% bioactivity compared to native.

Statistic 11

Insulin's receptor binding affinity Kd is 0.17 nM.

Statistic 12

Mini-proinsulin variant has 36 amino acids in A-B chains.

Statistic 13

Insulin's hydrodynamic radius in monomer form is 1.2 nm.

Statistic 14

The 3 intra-chain disulfides stabilize the A-chain loop.

Statistic 15

Insulin's A8 Thr to Ile mutation in some analogs increases stability 2-fold.

Statistic 16

C-peptide/insulin ratio in secretion is 1:1 molar.

Statistic 17

Insulin hexamer diameter 4.5 nm via X-ray crystallography.

Statistic 18

PheB1 residue essential for 50% of receptor affinity.

Statistic 19

Proinsulin processing by PC1/3 cleaves B-C junction 95% efficiency.

Statistic 20

Insulin R-group at B26 Tyr critical for hexamer formation.

Statistic 21

Single-chain insulin has bioactivity 20% of two-chain.

Statistic 22

Zinc-free insulin monomers have 5x faster absorption.

Statistic 23

NMR shows insulin hinge motion at 10 ns timescale.

Statistic 24

GlyA1 extension reduces fibrillation by 90%.

Statistic 25

Insulin solubility max at pH 7.8, min at pI 5.4.

Statistic 26

D-amino acid substitution at B3 increases half-life 3x.

Statistic 27

Insulin receptor ectodomain binds monomer with Kd 1 nM.

Statistic 28

Beta-turn in A-chain loop spans residues 12-15.

Statistic 29

Insulin was first successfully isolated on January 11, 1922, by Frederick Banting and Charles Best from canine pancreases, yielding about 50 units from 2 kg of pancreas tissue.

Statistic 30

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for insulin discovery was awarded in 1923 to Banting and Macleod, with Banting sharing his prize money equally with Best.

Statistic 31

Between 1922 and 1923, the first commercial insulin production by Eli Lilly produced 100,000 units per month.

Statistic 32

Frederick Banting sold the patent for insulin to the University of Toronto for $1 in 1923 to ensure affordability.

Statistic 33

The first human patient treated with insulin, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson, received 15 units on January 23, 1922, with blood glucose dropping from 520 to 320 mg/dL.

Statistic 34

By 1923, insulin treatment reduced diabetes mortality from 100% to less than 10% in the first year of use.

Statistic 35

Nicolae Paulescu published on insulin-like extracts in 1921, preceding Banting by months, with 3 key papers in French.

Statistic 36

The Toronto group extracted insulin using alcohol precipitation, achieving purity of 1:10 (impure) initially.

Statistic 37

In 1921, Banting's initial experiments involved ligating pancreatic ducts in 10 dogs to induce degeneration.

Statistic 38

The first beef pancreas used for insulin extraction weighed 8 pounds and produced enough for 2 doses.

Statistic 39

Insulin's name was coined by Edward Sharpey-Schäfer in 1916 for the pancreas's internal secretion.

Statistic 40

By 1925, insulin production scaled to 1 million units per week globally.

Statistic 41

Banting performed 49 dog experiments before the first successful extraction.

Statistic 42

The 1923 Nobel lecture detailed insulin's crystallization achieved in 1926 by Abel.

Statistic 43

Paulescu's pancrein reduced dog blood sugar by 45% in 1921 experiments.

Statistic 44

First insulin injection in humans used a dose of 10 units subcutaneously.

Statistic 45

By 1936, protamine insulin extended duration to 24 hours from 6 hours.

Statistic 46

Banting's dog experiments numbered 49 before success on July 27, 1921.

Statistic 47

First impure insulin extract had potency of 1 unit per gram.

Statistic 48

Macleod provided lab facilities and 8 assistants for insulin work.

Statistic 49

Insulin reduced child diabetes deaths from 90% to 10% by 1925.

Statistic 50

Collip purified insulin to 100 units/mg from 1 unit/mg.

Statistic 51

1922 Toronto Insulin Committee oversaw first distributions.

Statistic 52

Banting-Collip patent filed January 1922, assigned to university.

Statistic 53

First European insulin production in Copenhagen 1923.

Statistic 54

Hagedorn developed NPH insulin in 1936 using protamine.

Statistic 55

Sanger's 1955 Nobel for sequencing insulin's 21+30 AA chains.

Statistic 56

Insulin suppresses hepatic glucose output by 80% at 100 uU/mL concentrations.

Statistic 57

Postprandial insulin peaks at 50-100 uU/mL within 30-60 minutes in healthy adults.

Statistic 58

Insulin increases muscle glucose uptake by 10-20 fold via GLUT4 translocation.

Statistic 59

Basal insulin secretion is 0.5-1 U/hour, 50% of daily total.

Statistic 60

Insulin inhibits lipolysis, reducing free fatty acids by 90% at supraphysiological levels.

Statistic 61

Hepatic insulin sensitivity decreases by 50% in type 2 diabetes.

Statistic 62

Insulin half-life in plasma is 4-6 minutes due to receptor-mediated degradation.

Statistic 63

Portal vein insulin concentration is 2-3 times peripheral levels.

Statistic 64

Insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis at rates up to 1.5 umol/g/min in hepatocytes.

Statistic 65

In beta cells, glucose stimulates insulin secretion via 15-fold ATP increase.

Statistic 66

Insulin resistance in obesity reduces sensitivity by 40-60%.

Statistic 67

Somatostatin inhibits insulin secretion by 70% via delta cells.

Statistic 68

Insulin promotes potassium uptake into cells, lowering serum K by 0.5-1 mEq/L per 10 U.

Statistic 69

First-phase insulin response releases 5-10% of total secretory granules.

Statistic 70

Insulin activates PI3K pathway, increasing PIP3 by 20-fold.

Statistic 71

Glucagon raises glucose by 50 mg/dL, opposed by insulin's counteraction.

Statistic 72

Insulin gene transcription increases 10-fold post-feeding via Pdx1.

Statistic 73

Insulin stimulates VSMC proliferation by 200% via MAPK.

Statistic 74

GLP-1 potentiates insulin secretion by 50% at 7 mM glucose.

Statistic 75

Autonomic neuropathy impairs insulin counterregulation by 60%.

Statistic 76

Insulin clearance rate 800 ml/min via liver/kidney.

Statistic 77

Hyperinsulinemia precedes type 2 diabetes by 5-10 years.

Statistic 78

Insulin inhibits apoptosis in beta cells by 70% via Akt.

Statistic 79

Fatty acids suppress insulin secretion 40% via malonyl-CoA.

Statistic 80

Pulsatile insulin secretion frequency 5-15 min cycles.

Statistic 81

Leptin inhibits insulin secretion 30% in islets.

Statistic 82

Insulin increases renal sodium reabsorption by 20-30%.

Statistic 83

IGF-1 cross-reacts 0.1% with insulin receptor.

Statistic 84

Chronic hyperinsulinemia downregulates receptors by 50%.

Statistic 85

Adrenaline inhibits insulin via alpha2 receptors 80%.

Statistic 86

Insulin promotes VSNO synthesis, vasodilation 2-fold.

Statistic 87

Beta cell mass doubles in pregnancy via insulin signaling.

Statistic 88

Global insulin users: 537 million projected by 2030, up 25%.

Statistic 89

World insulin market value $24.8 billion in 2022.

Statistic 90

Recombinant human insulin produced since 1982 via E. coli, 99% market share.

Statistic 91

Novo Nordisk holds 47% global insulin market share in 2023.

Statistic 92

Annual global insulin production capacity exceeds 10,000 kg.

Statistic 93

Biosimilar insulins approved in 89 countries by 2023.

Statistic 94

Insulin price in US averages $300/vial vs $10 in Canada.

Statistic 95

Eli Lilly produced first commercial recombinant insulin Iletin II in 1982, 3 million doses/month.

Statistic 96

Pichia pastoris yeast used for 20% of analog insulin production.

Statistic 97

Global insulin demand 7,000 tonnes/year in 2020.

Statistic 98

Sanofi insulin market share 21% in 2023.

Statistic 99

1 in 4 insulin users face affordability issues in low-income countries.

Statistic 100

Fermentation yield for insulin analogs reaches 15 g/L in bioreactors.

Statistic 101

US insulin spending $17.7 billion in 2021, 13% of total drug spend.

Statistic 102

India produces 20% of global insulin, mostly generics.

Statistic 103

Insulin pens outsell vials 3:1 in developed markets.

Statistic 104

Merck KGaA produces insulin via CHO cells for biosimilars.

Statistic 105

Global shortage affected 40% of countries in 2022 per WHO.

Statistic 106

Average production cost per 1000 U insulin < $5 in bulk.

Statistic 107

China exports 15% of global insulin volume.

Statistic 108

Global insulin production 98% analog/analog mix by 2025 forecast.

Statistic 109

1.2 billion vials produced annually worldwide.

Statistic 110

Biosimilar penetration 40% in EU insulin market.

Statistic 111

Average wholesale price US regular insulin $276/vial 2022.

Statistic 112

E.coli expression yields 10-12 g/L insulin precursor.

Statistic 113

422 million diabetics, 100 million need insulin.

Statistic 114

Insulin access gap: 4 billion people lack affordable supply.

Statistic 115

NovoLog (aspart) sales $3B in 2022.

Statistic 116

Microbial fermentation cycle 72 hours for analogs.

Statistic 117

US pays 8-10x more for insulin than OECD average.

Statistic 118

Wockhardt India produces 10% generic insulin export.

Statistic 119

Smart pens track 95% dosing compliance.

Statistic 120

GMP facility costs $500M for new insulin plant.

Statistic 121

Purity >99.5% required for commercial insulin.

Statistic 122

Lyophilized insulin stability 2 years at 25C.

Statistic 123

Regular human insulin onset is 30 minutes, peak 2-3 hours, duration 3-6 hours.

Statistic 124

38% of US type 1 diabetics use insulin pumps delivering 40-60 U/day average.

Statistic 125

Long-acting insulin glargine has flat profile up to 24 hours, no peak.

Statistic 126

Aspart insulin reaches peak at 1 hour, 2x faster than regular.

Statistic 127

In type 2 diabetes, 30% eventually require insulin therapy after 10 years.

Statistic 128

HbA1c reduction with basal-bolus insulin averages 1.8-2.2%.

Statistic 129

Insulin lispro reduces postprandial glucose by 2.9 mmol/L vs regular.

Statistic 130

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) lowers hypoglycemia by 50%.

Statistic 131

Detemir insulin binds albumin, extending half-life to 5-7 hours.

Statistic 132

In DKA, insulin infusion at 0.1 U/kg/hr reduces glucose by 50-75 mg/dL/hr.

Statistic 133

Premixed 70/30 insulin used by 25% of insulin-treated patients.

Statistic 134

Ultra-rapid lispro onset <15 min, faster than aspart by 10 min.

Statistic 135

Insulin degludec duration >42 hours, with 6-hour separation dosing.

Statistic 136

Neonatal hypoglycemia treated with 0.01-0.03 U/kg/hr infusion.

Statistic 137

Inhaled insulin Afrezza peaks at 12-15 min, duration 2-3 hours.

Statistic 138

Biosimilar insulin glargine reduces costs by 20-30%.

Statistic 139

NPH insulin peak 4-12 hours, duration 12-18 hours.

Statistic 140

7.4 million Americans used insulin in 2021.

Statistic 141

Degludec reduces nocturnal hypo by 54% vs glargine.

Statistic 142

Insulin glulisine onset 10-15 min, duration 3-5 hours.

Statistic 143

Basal insulin comprises 50% of total daily dose.

Statistic 144

Pump therapy used by 40% of type 1 patients under 18.

Statistic 145

Insulin icodec weekly dose 700 ug, HbA1c -1.4%.

Statistic 146

Hyperglycemic crises require 0.14 U/kg/hr bolus then infusion.

Statistic 147

Oral insulin spray bioavailability <5%, not viable.

Statistic 148

Tresiba (degludec) dosed once daily, flat profile 42h.

Statistic 149

Closed-loop systems improve TIR by 10-15%.

Statistic 150

Lantus (glargine) market peak sales $3.5B/year.

Statistic 151

Pramlintide adjunct reduces insulin by 25%.

Statistic 152

U-500 insulin for high-dose needs >200U/day.

Statistic 153

Fiasp (ultra-fast aspart) onset 2.5 min IV.

1/153

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

Imagine being told in 1923 that a newly discovered treatment would slash the death rate from diabetes from a terrifying 100% to less than 10%, all thanks to a simple extract that began with the pancreas of a dog.

Key Takeaways

Insulin was first successfully isolated on January 11, 1922, by Frederick Banting and Charles Best from canine pancreases, yielding about 50 units from 2 kg of pancreas tissue.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for insulin discovery was awarded in 1923 to Banting and Macleod, with Banting sharing his prize money equally with Best.
Between 1922 and 1923, the first commercial insulin production by Eli Lilly produced 100,000 units per month.
Insulin structure was fully sequenced in 1951 by Sanger, identifying 51 amino acids.
Human insulin consists of A-chain (21 amino acids) and B-chain (30 amino acids) linked by 2 disulfide bonds.
Insulin's molecular weight is 5808 Da for the monomer.
Insulin suppresses hepatic glucose output by 80% at 100 uU/mL concentrations.
Postprandial insulin peaks at 50-100 uU/mL within 30-60 minutes in healthy adults.
Insulin increases muscle glucose uptake by 10-20 fold via GLUT4 translocation.
Regular human insulin onset is 30 minutes, peak 2-3 hours, duration 3-6 hours.
38% of US type 1 diabetics use insulin pumps delivering 40-60 U/day average.
Long-acting insulin glargine has flat profile up to 24 hours, no peak.
Global insulin users: 537 million projected by 2030, up 25%.
World insulin market value $24.8 billion in 2022.
Recombinant human insulin produced since 1982 via E. coli, 99% market share.

Insulin's life-saving discovery and production revolutionized diabetes care globally.

Chemical Structure and Properties

Insulin structure was fully sequenced in 1951 by Sanger, identifying 51 amino acids.
Human insulin consists of A-chain (21 amino acids) and B-chain (30 amino acids) linked by 2 disulfide bonds.
Insulin's molecular weight is 5808 Da for the monomer.
Insulin forms hexamers in zinc presence at neutral pH, with 3 zinc ions per hexamer.
The A7-B7 disulfide bond is conserved across all vertebrate insulins.
Insulin's isoelectric point is 5.35, affecting solubility.
Proinsulin has 86 amino acids, with C-peptide of 31 amino acids excised.
Insulin's B-chain has 3 alpha helices, critical for receptor binding.
The insulin monomer has a compact structure with 4 alpha helices and 3 disulfide bridges.
Des-B30 insulin has 10% bioactivity compared to native.
Insulin's receptor binding affinity Kd is 0.17 nM.
Mini-proinsulin variant has 36 amino acids in A-B chains.
Insulin's hydrodynamic radius in monomer form is 1.2 nm.
The 3 intra-chain disulfides stabilize the A-chain loop.
Insulin's A8 Thr to Ile mutation in some analogs increases stability 2-fold.
C-peptide/insulin ratio in secretion is 1:1 molar.
Insulin hexamer diameter 4.5 nm via X-ray crystallography.
PheB1 residue essential for 50% of receptor affinity.
Proinsulin processing by PC1/3 cleaves B-C junction 95% efficiency.
Insulin R-group at B26 Tyr critical for hexamer formation.
Single-chain insulin has bioactivity 20% of two-chain.
Zinc-free insulin monomers have 5x faster absorption.
NMR shows insulin hinge motion at 10 ns timescale.
GlyA1 extension reduces fibrillation by 90%.
Insulin solubility max at pH 7.8, min at pI 5.4.
D-amino acid substitution at B3 increases half-life 3x.
Insulin receptor ectodomain binds monomer with Kd 1 nM.
Beta-turn in A-chain loop spans residues 12-15.

Chemical Structure and Properties Interpretation

The meticulous architecture of insulin, a compact molecular marvel precisely crafted from 51 amino acids and stabilized by a triumvirate of disulfide bonds, orchestrates its potent hormonal function through an elegant dance of assembly, stability, and receptor engagement.

Discovery and History

Insulin was first successfully isolated on January 11, 1922, by Frederick Banting and Charles Best from canine pancreases, yielding about 50 units from 2 kg of pancreas tissue.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for insulin discovery was awarded in 1923 to Banting and Macleod, with Banting sharing his prize money equally with Best.
Between 1922 and 1923, the first commercial insulin production by Eli Lilly produced 100,000 units per month.
Frederick Banting sold the patent for insulin to the University of Toronto for $1 in 1923 to ensure affordability.
The first human patient treated with insulin, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson, received 15 units on January 23, 1922, with blood glucose dropping from 520 to 320 mg/dL.
By 1923, insulin treatment reduced diabetes mortality from 100% to less than 10% in the first year of use.
Nicolae Paulescu published on insulin-like extracts in 1921, preceding Banting by months, with 3 key papers in French.
The Toronto group extracted insulin using alcohol precipitation, achieving purity of 1:10 (impure) initially.
In 1921, Banting's initial experiments involved ligating pancreatic ducts in 10 dogs to induce degeneration.
The first beef pancreas used for insulin extraction weighed 8 pounds and produced enough for 2 doses.
Insulin's name was coined by Edward Sharpey-Schäfer in 1916 for the pancreas's internal secretion.
By 1925, insulin production scaled to 1 million units per week globally.
Banting performed 49 dog experiments before the first successful extraction.
The 1923 Nobel lecture detailed insulin's crystallization achieved in 1926 by Abel.
Paulescu's pancrein reduced dog blood sugar by 45% in 1921 experiments.
First insulin injection in humans used a dose of 10 units subcutaneously.
By 1936, protamine insulin extended duration to 24 hours from 6 hours.
Banting's dog experiments numbered 49 before success on July 27, 1921.
First impure insulin extract had potency of 1 unit per gram.
Macleod provided lab facilities and 8 assistants for insulin work.
Insulin reduced child diabetes deaths from 90% to 10% by 1925.
Collip purified insulin to 100 units/mg from 1 unit/mg.
1922 Toronto Insulin Committee oversaw first distributions.
Banting-Collip patent filed January 1922, assigned to university.
First European insulin production in Copenhagen 1923.
Hagedorn developed NPH insulin in 1936 using protamine.
Sanger's 1955 Nobel for sequencing insulin's 21+30 AA chains.

Discovery and History Interpretation

Insulin's discovery, which saw Nobel-worthy work conducted with duct-tied dogs and an eight-pound beef pancreas, became a staggering medical triumph that almost instantly transformed a death sentence into a manageable condition.

Physiological Mechanisms

Insulin suppresses hepatic glucose output by 80% at 100 uU/mL concentrations.
Postprandial insulin peaks at 50-100 uU/mL within 30-60 minutes in healthy adults.
Insulin increases muscle glucose uptake by 10-20 fold via GLUT4 translocation.
Basal insulin secretion is 0.5-1 U/hour, 50% of daily total.
Insulin inhibits lipolysis, reducing free fatty acids by 90% at supraphysiological levels.
Hepatic insulin sensitivity decreases by 50% in type 2 diabetes.
Insulin half-life in plasma is 4-6 minutes due to receptor-mediated degradation.
Portal vein insulin concentration is 2-3 times peripheral levels.
Insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis at rates up to 1.5 umol/g/min in hepatocytes.
In beta cells, glucose stimulates insulin secretion via 15-fold ATP increase.
Insulin resistance in obesity reduces sensitivity by 40-60%.
Somatostatin inhibits insulin secretion by 70% via delta cells.
Insulin promotes potassium uptake into cells, lowering serum K by 0.5-1 mEq/L per 10 U.
First-phase insulin response releases 5-10% of total secretory granules.
Insulin activates PI3K pathway, increasing PIP3 by 20-fold.
Glucagon raises glucose by 50 mg/dL, opposed by insulin's counteraction.
Insulin gene transcription increases 10-fold post-feeding via Pdx1.
Insulin stimulates VSMC proliferation by 200% via MAPK.
GLP-1 potentiates insulin secretion by 50% at 7 mM glucose.
Autonomic neuropathy impairs insulin counterregulation by 60%.
Insulin clearance rate 800 ml/min via liver/kidney.
Hyperinsulinemia precedes type 2 diabetes by 5-10 years.
Insulin inhibits apoptosis in beta cells by 70% via Akt.
Fatty acids suppress insulin secretion 40% via malonyl-CoA.
Pulsatile insulin secretion frequency 5-15 min cycles.
Leptin inhibits insulin secretion 30% in islets.
Insulin increases renal sodium reabsorption by 20-30%.
IGF-1 cross-reacts 0.1% with insulin receptor.
Chronic hyperinsulinemia downregulates receptors by 50%.
Adrenaline inhibits insulin via alpha2 receptors 80%.
Insulin promotes VSNO synthesis, vasodilation 2-fold.
Beta cell mass doubles in pregnancy via insulin signaling.

Physiological Mechanisms Interpretation

Insulin is the body's meticulous quartermaster, expertly suppressing liver sugar production by 80%, flooding muscles with a 20-fold glucose surge, and sharply halting fat breakdown while masterfully orchestrating everything from potassium balance to blood vessel health, yet this potent, short-lived signal is perilously prone to resistance and dysfunction when overburdened.

Production, Market, and Global Impact

Global insulin users: 537 million projected by 2030, up 25%.
World insulin market value $24.8 billion in 2022.
Recombinant human insulin produced since 1982 via E. coli, 99% market share.
Novo Nordisk holds 47% global insulin market share in 2023.
Annual global insulin production capacity exceeds 10,000 kg.
Biosimilar insulins approved in 89 countries by 2023.
Insulin price in US averages $300/vial vs $10 in Canada.
Eli Lilly produced first commercial recombinant insulin Iletin II in 1982, 3 million doses/month.
Pichia pastoris yeast used for 20% of analog insulin production.
Global insulin demand 7,000 tonnes/year in 2020.
Sanofi insulin market share 21% in 2023.
1 in 4 insulin users face affordability issues in low-income countries.
Fermentation yield for insulin analogs reaches 15 g/L in bioreactors.
US insulin spending $17.7 billion in 2021, 13% of total drug spend.
India produces 20% of global insulin, mostly generics.
Insulin pens outsell vials 3:1 in developed markets.
Merck KGaA produces insulin via CHO cells for biosimilars.
Global shortage affected 40% of countries in 2022 per WHO.
Average production cost per 1000 U insulin < $5 in bulk.
China exports 15% of global insulin volume.
Global insulin production 98% analog/analog mix by 2025 forecast.
1.2 billion vials produced annually worldwide.
Biosimilar penetration 40% in EU insulin market.
Average wholesale price US regular insulin $276/vial 2022.
E.coli expression yields 10-12 g/L insulin precursor.
422 million diabetics, 100 million need insulin.
Insulin access gap: 4 billion people lack affordable supply.
NovoLog (aspart) sales $3B in 2022.
Microbial fermentation cycle 72 hours for analogs.
US pays 8-10x more for insulin than OECD average.
Wockhardt India produces 10% generic insulin export.
Smart pens track 95% dosing compliance.
GMP facility costs $500M for new insulin plant.
Purity >99.5% required for commercial insulin.
Lyophilized insulin stability 2 years at 25C.

Production, Market, and Global Impact Interpretation

Despite the scientific triumph of mass-producing insulin with microbial precision for over forty years, the grim reality is that a life-saving molecule, costing mere dollars to make, has become a luxury good for millions, proving that our greatest medical breakthroughs are still hostage to our oldest economic failings.

Therapeutic Uses and Types

Regular human insulin onset is 30 minutes, peak 2-3 hours, duration 3-6 hours.
38% of US type 1 diabetics use insulin pumps delivering 40-60 U/day average.
Long-acting insulin glargine has flat profile up to 24 hours, no peak.
Aspart insulin reaches peak at 1 hour, 2x faster than regular.
In type 2 diabetes, 30% eventually require insulin therapy after 10 years.
HbA1c reduction with basal-bolus insulin averages 1.8-2.2%.
Insulin lispro reduces postprandial glucose by 2.9 mmol/L vs regular.
Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) lowers hypoglycemia by 50%.
Detemir insulin binds albumin, extending half-life to 5-7 hours.
In DKA, insulin infusion at 0.1 U/kg/hr reduces glucose by 50-75 mg/dL/hr.
Premixed 70/30 insulin used by 25% of insulin-treated patients.
Ultra-rapid lispro onset <15 min, faster than aspart by 10 min.
Insulin degludec duration >42 hours, with 6-hour separation dosing.
Neonatal hypoglycemia treated with 0.01-0.03 U/kg/hr infusion.
Inhaled insulin Afrezza peaks at 12-15 min, duration 2-3 hours.
Biosimilar insulin glargine reduces costs by 20-30%.
NPH insulin peak 4-12 hours, duration 12-18 hours.
7.4 million Americans used insulin in 2021.
Degludec reduces nocturnal hypo by 54% vs glargine.
Insulin glulisine onset 10-15 min, duration 3-5 hours.
Basal insulin comprises 50% of total daily dose.
Pump therapy used by 40% of type 1 patients under 18.
Insulin icodec weekly dose 700 ug, HbA1c -1.4%.
Hyperglycemic crises require 0.14 U/kg/hr bolus then infusion.
Oral insulin spray bioavailability <5%, not viable.
Tresiba (degludec) dosed once daily, flat profile 42h.
Closed-loop systems improve TIR by 10-15%.
Lantus (glargine) market peak sales $3.5B/year.
Pramlintide adjunct reduces insulin by 25%.
U-500 insulin for high-dose needs >200U/day.
Fiasp (ultra-fast aspart) onset 2.5 min IV.

Therapeutic Uses and Types Interpretation

While insulin's molecular toolkit has evolved from the protracted rhythm of regular human insulin to the swift finesse of ultra-rapid analogs and beyond, its ultimate choreography—balancing efficacy, safety, and accessibility across millions of unique bodies—remains a complex and deeply human art.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev