Circadian profiles of blood glucose and plasma free insulin during treatment with semisynthetic and biosynthetic human insulin, and comparison with conventional monocomponent preparations.

Sixteen hospitalized insulin requiring diabetics treated with a single daily subcutaneous injection were randomly allocated either to a mixture of porcine Actrapid + Lente MC or a mixture of Regular + NPH-Biosynthetic human insulin (Study 1). In Study 2, 10 patients receiving two daily insulin injections were treated at random with either porcine Actrapid + Monotard, or Actrapid + Monotard-Semisynthetic human insulin or Regular + NPH--Biosynthetic human insulin. Once an optimal insulin regimen was obtained, circadian blood glucose and plasma free insulin profiles (7-9 time points) were determined with the two (Study 1) or three (Study 2) insulin preparations, keeping the doses of insulin constant. In Study 1 no significant difference in blood glucose (BG) or plasma free insulin (FIRI) profiles was observed. The mean daily blood glucose, the mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (MAGE), the index of blood glucose control (M-value of Schlichtkrull), as well as the postbreakfast increases in blood glucose and mean free IRI, were similar with both types of insulin. In Study 2, BG and FIRI profiles were also similar, except for a significantly lower (p less than 0.02) BG at 8.30 p.m. with both human insulins. No significant differences were found in free IRI at that time. Mean BG, M index, MAGE and mean FIRI were similar but the postbreakfast increase was significantly smaller with SHI. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics of animal monocomponent, semisynthetic and biosynthetic human insulin appear similar, but evening BG control was better with both types of human insulins given twice daily.