[Treatment of type II diabetes using homologous intermediate-acting insulin combinations. Comparison of the effectiveness of 5 commonly used preparations].

Although intraindividual comparisons of commonly used human standard combination insulins have not been made, pharmacodynamic differences between preparations in the by now no vast insulin market have been highlighted. The action of five bio- or semisynthetic human insulins of all four manufacturers using the same galenic formula and with a fixed normal insulin content of 20-30% was tested at equal dosages in type IIa and type IIb diabetics with differing residual pancreatic secretion. No differences were demonstrated in onset, maximum or duration of action. The blood-sugar lowering effect of the preparations is particularly marked in the late morning hours and may, if not counteracted by adequate carbohydrate intake, lead to hypoglycaemia. Duration of action of the preparations depends on the individual extent of endogenous pancreatic insulin reserves.