Types and forms of insulin available in Australia
| Type of insulin | Brand names | Source of insulin | What forms does it come in? | When should I inject it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulin (very short-acting) |
NovoRapid (insulin aspart) |
Manufactured | NovoRapid vial NovoRapid penfill NovoRapid FlexPen |
15 minutes before a meal |
| Humalog (insulin lispro) |
Manufactured | Humalog vial Humalog cartridge Humalog disposable pen |
15 minutes before a meal | |
| Apidra (insulin glulisine) |
Manufactured | Apidra vial Apidra cartridge Apidra SoloStar |
15 minutes before a meal | |
| Insulin (short-acting) |
Actrapid | Human | Actrapid vial Actrapid penfill |
Within 30 minutes before a meal |
| Humulin R | Human | Humulin R vial Humulin R cartridge |
Within 30 minutes before a meal | |
| Hypurin Neutral | Bovine | Hypurin Neutral injection | Within 30 minutes before a meal | |
| Insulin (intermediate-acting) |
Humulin NPH | Human | Humulin NPH vial Humulin NPH cartridge |
Once or twice per day depending on glucose levels |
| Protaphane | Human | Protaphane vial Protaphane penfill Protaphane InnoLet |
Once or twice per day depending on glucose levels | |
| Hypurin Isophane | Bovine | Hypurin Isophane vial | Once or twice per day depending on glucose levels | |
| Insulin (long-acting) |
Lantus (insulin glargine) |
Manufactured | Lantus vial Lantus cartridge Lantus SoloStar |
Insulin glargine is injected once daily |
| Levemir (insulin detemir) |
Manufactured | Levemir penfill Levemir FlexPen |
Once or twice per day depending on glucose levels | |
| Pre-mixed insulins | Humalog Mix 25 | Manufactured | Humalog Mix 25 cartridge Humalog Mix 25 disposable pen |
Once or twice daily depending on glucose levels |
| Humalog Mix 50 | Manufactured | Humalog Mix 50 cartridge Humalog Mix 50 disposable pen |
Once or twice daily depending on glucose levels | |
| NovoMix 30 | Manufactured | NovoMix 30 penfill NovoMix 30 FlexPen |
Once or twice daily depending on glucose levels | |
| Mixtard 30/70 | Human | Mixtard 30/70 penfill Mixtard 30/70 InnoLet |
Once or twice daily depending on glucose levels | |
| Humulin 30/70 | Human | Humulin 30/70 vial Humulin 30/70 cartridge |
Once or twice daily depending on glucose levels | |
| Mixtard 50/50 | Human | Mixtard 50/50 penfill | Once or twice daily depending on glucose levels |
References
- Craig ME, Twigg SM, Donaghue KC, et al for the Australian Type 1 Diabetes Guidelines Expert Advisory Group. National evidence-based clinical care guidelines for type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents and adults. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2011. www.diabetessociety.com.au/downloads/Type1guidelines14Nov2011.pdf (accessed 15 November 2011).
- Rossi S, ed. eAMH [online]. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook, July 2012.
- Sweetman S, ed. Martindale: The complete drug reference [online]. London: Pharmaceutical Press. www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/martindale/current/ (accessed 18 October 2011).
- Baxter K, ed. Stockley's drug interactions: A source book of interactions, their mechanisms, clinical importance and management. 9th edn. London: Pharmaceutical Press, May 2010. www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/stockley/current/ (accessed 18 October 2011).
- The relevant consumer medicine information and product information have been consulted for every medicine discussed.