As of October 22nd, 2019, Novonordisk’s ultra-fast insulin Fiasp® is now approved for insulin pumps in the United States.
This insulin analogue, already approved in Quebec for people who inject insulin with a pen or syringe, is a fast-acting insulin that is even faster than the usual rapid insulins (Novorapid®, Apidra®, Humalog®).
The faster mode of action of this insulin allows it to begin its action about 4 minutes after the injection, to be at maximum of its action after 1 to 2 hours and to finish its action after 3 to 4 hours. This mode of action would be closer and should match better with the variation of blood glucose after a meal.
Due to this faster mode of action, this insulin was initially approved in Europe for people who carry an insulin pump.
Studies have been conducted with people living with type 1 diabetes and who carry an insulin pump to compare the effect of a classic rapid insulin with the effect of Fiasp® insulin. These studies concluded that the use of Fiasp® insulin is safe and may lead to better postprandial glucose control (after meals).
The application for approval of this insulin for insulin pumps in Canada is underway and we hope it will be approved soon.
Références:
- Zijlstra E, Demissie M, Graungaard T, Heise T, Nosek L, Bode B. Investigation of Pump Compatibility of Fast-Acting Insulin Aspart in Subjects With Type 1 Diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2018 Jan;12(1):145-151. doi: 10.1177/1932296817730375.
- Klonoff DC, Evans ML, Lane W, Kempe HP, Renard E, DeVries JH, Graungaard T, Hyseni A, Gondolf T, Battelino T. A randomized, multicentre trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of fast-acting insulin aspart in continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in adults with type 1 diabetes (onset 5). Diabetes Obes Metab. 2018 Dec 9. doi: 10.1111/dom.13610.