Insulin Aspart and Insulin Lispro Clinical Profiles
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Properties
- Insulin aspart (Novolog) and insulin lispro (Humalog) have distinct amino acid modifications, with insulin aspart having a substitution of proline with aspartic acid, and they have nearly identical action profiles, including onset of action, peak action, and duration of action 1, 2
- The onset of action for both insulins is 0.25-0.5 hours, peak action is 1-3 hours, and duration of action is 3-5 hours 1, 2
Clinical Use and Implications
- The American Diabetes Association recommends the use of rapid-acting insulin analogs, such as insulin aspart and insulin lispro, as prandial insulin in basal-bolus regimens, and in continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (insulin pumps) for the management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes 3, 4, 2, 5
- While insulin aspart and insulin lispro have similar profiles, they are not considered interchangeable products and require a prescription change to switch between them, according to the American Diabetes Association 3, 2
Practical Considerations
- Insulin aspart and insulin lispro are suitable for use in insulin pumps with similar stability profiles, as stated by the American Diabetes Association 4
- The cost of insulin aspart and insulin lispro may differ, which could affect patient access and adherence, according to the American Diabetes Association 6