Short answer: Insulin glulisine has a half-life of about 42 minutes (under the skin). Levels peak median 60 minutes (type 1); 100 minutes (type 2) after a dose. People vary, so treat these as estimates.
Insulin glulisine is a rapid-acting (mealtime) insulin, a lab-made insulin absorbed faster than regular human insulin. It is sold as Apidra (Sanofi).
Also known as: Apidra.
Apidra is U-100 (100 units/mL) in a 10 mL multiple-dose vial and a 3 mL SoloStar pen that dials in 1-unit steps.
The Apidra label approves insulin glulisine to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with diabetes. Label timing: injected under the skin of the belly, thigh or upper arm within 15 minutes before a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal, usually with an intermediate- or long-acting insulin. The dose is set for each person, with no fixed starting dose. It can be used in a compatible insulin pump, where it is changed at least every 48 hours, or given into a vein under medical supervision. The label has no missed-dose rule.
Apidra has no boxed warning. Low blood sugar is the most common side effect of every insulin, and severe lows can cause seizures or death. The labels also warn: never share a pen, cartridge or syringe, even with a new needle; changes in insulin type, maker, strength or injection site are made under medical supervision with more glucose checks; insulin mix-ups have happened, so the label is checked before each injection; insulin can lower potassium; and heart failure can worsen when insulin is used with a thiazolidinedione such as pioglitazone. In pooled adult trials, nasopharyngitis affected 10.6% in type 1 diabetes and upper respiratory infection 10.5% in type 2; severe low blood sugar ranged from 1.4% to 16.2% depending on the study, highest in children. See Apidra side effects, Apidra dosing schedule, how to store Apidra, Humalog vs Apidra and NovoLog vs Apidra.
The Apidra label says that after an injection under the skin, insulin glulisine has an apparent half-life of 42 minutes, versus 86 minutes for regular human insulin. In type 1 diabetes, levels peaked at a median of 60 minutes (range 40 to 120) after 0.15 units/kg, versus 120 minutes for regular insulin; in type 2 diabetes, at 100 minutes versus 240. About 70% is absorbed, whether injected in the belly, upper arm or thigh.
Numbers shown are taken from the source above. Half-life varies from person to person.
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