Approved & therapeutic
Insulin (long-acting analogues)
Insulin glargine, Insulin degludec, Lantus, Tresiba
Long-acting insulin analogues provide basal insulin coverage in diabetes. They are listed separately from the rapid-acting analogues because their pharmacokinetics, and therefore their risk profile, are entirely different.
Also known as: Lantus, Tresiba, Basaglar, Toujeo, Levemir, insulin glargine, insulin degludec, insulin detemir
- Status
- Insulin (long-acting analogues) is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information.
- Evidence
- Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
- Half-life
- Glargine approximately 12 hours with a duration near 24 hours; degludec approximately 25 hours with a duration exceeding 42 hours.
- How it's taken
- Once-daily subcutaneous injection
- Mechanism
- Metabolic (non-incretin)
- Pathways
- Insulin Signalling
How Insulin (long-acting analogues) works
These analogues are engineered for slow, flat absorption. Glargine is soluble at acidic pH and microprecipitates in subcutaneous tissue at physiological pH, dissolving slowly. Degludec forms soluble multihexamer chains at the injection site that release monomers gradually. Both produce a peakless profile approximating basal endogenous secretion, rather than the meal-related spike of rapid-acting analogues.
What research has looked at
- A flat, peakless profile substantially reduces nocturnal hypoglycaemia compared with NPH insulin.
- Once-daily dosing for most patients, with degludec tolerating considerable flexibility in injection timing.
- Degludec has a duration exceeding 42 hours, which buffers the effect of a late or missed dose.
- Essential basal therapy in type 1 diabetes and widely used in type 2 diabetes.
Evidence level: Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- Hypoglycaemia remains the principal risk. It is less abrupt than with rapid-acting insulin but harder to reverse, because the long duration means a hypoglycaemic episode can recur for many hours after treatment.
- The long duration is dangerous in the non-medical bodybuilding context specifically because it cannot be waited out — there is no short window to cover with carbohydrate.
- Basal and rapid-acting insulins are not interchangeable, and confusing them is a recognised and sometimes fatal medication error.
- Weight gain and injection-site lipodystrophy.
- Hypokalaemia.
- It is prohibited at all times under the WADA Prohibited List for athletes without a therapeutic use exemption.
Sources
- FDA approved-drug listing for insulin glargine · U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- DailyMed prescribing information for insulin glargine · NIH · DailyMed
- PubMed research on insulin glargine degludec basal hypoglycaemia · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for insulin glargine · DrugBank
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Related compounds
Insulin (long-acting analogues) FAQ
What is Insulin (long-acting analogues)?
Long-acting insulin analogues provide basal insulin coverage in diabetes. They are listed separately from the rapid-acting analogues because their pharmacokinetics, and therefore their risk profile, are entirely different.
How does Insulin (long-acting analogues) work?
These analogues are engineered for slow, flat absorption. Glargine is soluble at acidic pH and microprecipitates in subcutaneous tissue at physiological pH, dissolving slowly. Degludec forms soluble multihexamer chains at the injection site that release monomers gradually. Both produce a peakless profile approximating basal endogenous secretion, rather than the meal-related spike of rapid-acting analogues.
Is Insulin (long-acting analogues) FDA approved?
Yes. Insulin (long-acting analogues) is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information. Evidence level: approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
What is the half-life of Insulin (long-acting analogues)?
Reported half-life: Glargine approximately 12 hours with a duration near 24 hours; degludec approximately 25 hours with a duration exceeding 42 hours.
How is Insulin (long-acting analogues) taken?
Once-daily subcutaneous injection.
What side effects have been reported with Insulin (long-acting analogues)?
Reported in the sources: Hypoglycaemia remains the principal risk. It is less abrupt than with rapid-acting insulin but harder to reverse, because the long duration means a hypoglycaemic episode can recur for many hours after treatment; The long duration is dangerous in the non-medical bodybuilding context specifically because it cannot be waited out — there is no short window to cover with carbohydrate; Basal and rapid-acting insulins are not interchangeable, and confusing them is a recognised and sometimes fatal medication error; Weight gain and injection-site lipodystrophy; Hypokalaemia; It is prohibited at all times under the WADA Prohibited List for athletes without a therapeutic use exemption.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.