[Clinical use of NPH insulin (author's transl)].

NPH Insulin-Retard Leo has an even action spread over about 20 hours. Despite this long duration of action, single daily injections proved to be adequate in only 9-12% of diabetic patients. Twice daily injection provided a highly favourable fasting blood sugar level in all instances. Because of the small initial effect, the addition of regular insulin proved necessary in some of the patients. 50:50 mixture of regular and NPH Insulin-Retard Leo is available as Insulin Initard Leo, a 30:70 mixture as Insulin Semitard Leo. There remains a group of diabetics who should mix them to their own individual requirements. There were no local reactions when using highly purified components, as long as it was the first time that the patients used such insulin or were changed over from other reaction-free preparations. Diabetics with cutaneous allergies due to other forms of insulin had the same response to NPH preparations as to highly purified insulins of other forms.