Sept. 10, 2019

When I was working as an insulin pump trainer we would have patients who needed upwards of 200 units a day. These patients would have to change the cartridge in their pump every couple of days rather than the normal 3-5 days most patients could do.

One of our solutions was to convert these patients to U-500 insulin. However, since this insulin was 5 times as strong, there was always the fear that hypoglycemia could occur, and many prescribers were not comfortable converting carb ratios and correction factors.

Now that we have insulins with only 2 to 3 times the potency, does it make more sense to use these in continuous delivery devices?

Kassey James, Pharm.D.Candidate, LECOM School of Pharmacy, has an overview of newer data on concentrated insulin and why it may be time to use in insulin pumps.

 

Dave Joffe

Editor-in-chief