The role for insulin analogues in diabetes care

SummaryDiabetes care requires a move away from a classical medical model towards a patient-centred/driven model. This is essential not simply from the point of respecting the principles of autonomy but also because it is an essential component of the drive to improve control of diabetes. Insulin analogues play an important role in optimising control because they are the only insulins on the market that capture the three components of insulin physiology, namely the background basal insulin secretion, bolus insulin delivery with meals, and correction of any untoward glucose excursions. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the ultrashort-acting insulins suit the latter two components, whereas the former is attained with the long-acting analogues that do not have a peak action.