Updated June 15, 2006

Insulin Analog

Researchers and manufacturers continue to look for more effective basal insulin analogs. In 2005, a new basal insulin analog called insulin detemir, marketed by Novo Nordisk as Levemir, was approved by the FDA. In insulin detemir, the amino acid threonine is removed from position B30 and a fatty acid is chemically linked to the amino acid lysine at position B29. These changes cause insulin detemir to bind readily to albumin, a protein found in the body, and dissociate slowly, thus prolonging its effect. Insulin detemir lasts an average of 14 hours and would have to be taken twice daily for 24-hour coverage. As yet, there have been relatively few studies of insulin detemir, so its ultimate role in treating diabetes remains to be seen.

This article was written by Robert S. Dinsmoor, a Contributing Editor of Diabetes Self-Management.

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