Insulin aspart is a rapid-acting, human insulin analog that is FDA approved for the treatment of type-1 and type-2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycemic control in adults and children. Insulin aspart may also be used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), though this is not an FDA-approved indication. Insulin aspart should be used in addition to a long-acting (basal) insulin for complete therapy unless used in a continuous subcutaneous (insulin pump) or intravenous insulin infusion. Rapid-acting insulin products target-controlling, after-meal, blood glucose levels, or reducing blood glucose in response to an elevated blood glucose measurement, as in a correctional scale.[1][2][3]
Insulin aspart, or any rapid or short-acting insulin, is a mainstay of therapy in type-1 diabetes. Total daily insulin doses are usually between 0.4 to 1 units/kg per day, divided into long-acting insulin and rapid-acting insulin, such as insulin aspart. An initial breakdown of 50% basal insulin, 50% rapid-acting insulin is a starting place for most patients with type-1 diabetes and adjusted based on blood glucose. Doses are highly patient specific. Type-2 diabetes patients often use more basal insulin than bolus insulin compared to type-1 diabetes patients.
In type-2 diabetes, insulin aspart may be added for further glycemic control in addition to oral medications or long-acting insulin. Recommended starting doses for type-2 diabetes mellitus patients may be any of the following options: 4 units per meal, 0.1 units/kg per meal, or 10% of the basal dose. If A1c is less than 8%, consider reducing basal insulin dose when adding insulin aspart with meals.
Insulin aspart is also available commercially in a combination product with insulin degludec (long-acting insulin) or insulin aspart protamine (intermediate action insulin). Insulin degludec plus insulin aspart is dosed once or twice a day with the main meal. Insulin-naive patients should start insulin degludec/insulin aspart at 0.2 to 0.4 units/kg per day. Insulin aspart/insulin aspart protamine is 30% insulin aspart, 70% insulin aspart protamine. Dosing for the protamine product starts at 0.5 units/kg per day, divided into 2 doses before meals with 70% of the total daily dose before breakfast and 30% of the total daily dose before dinner.[4][5][6]
Insulin aspart regulates the metabolism of glucose. It promotes the storage and inhibits the breakdown of glucose, fat, and amino acids. Insulin lowers blood glucose by increasing peripheral glucose uptake, particularly in the skeletal muscle and fat. Insulin enhances the storage of fat (lipogenesis) and protein synthesis. Insulin aspart also inhibits gluconeogenesis (hepatic glucose production), lipolysis (breakdown of fat/lipids to fatty acids), and proteolysis (breakdown of proteins into amino acids). Maximum glucose lowering effects are seen within 1 to 2 hours and endure for 3 to 5 hours. Insulin aspart is equipotent to regular insulin with faster onset and shorter duration of action. Thus insulin aspart is preferred for mealtime insulin coverage as it can be administered up to every 4 hours.
Insulin aspart should be administered subcutaneously (SC) within 5 to 10 minutes before a meal, with 1 to 4 meals per day. Rotate injection sites between the top of thighs, back of upper arms, buttocks, or abdomen to avoid lipodystrophy. Avoid injecting within 2 inches of the naval. Insulin aspart may also be administered using a continuous subcutaneous infusion through an insulin pump or intravenously (IV) as a diluted solution with close monitoring of blood glucose and serum potassium. Insulin aspart may be mixed with NPH insulin only, but may only be administered SC once mixed.
The primary adverse effect of insulin aspart is hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose less than 70 mg/dL. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, tachycardia, irritability, or hunger. Severe cases of hypoglycemia (blood glucose less than 30 mg/dL) may lead to seizures or death. Hypoglycemia is a dose-dependent adverse effect and can be avoided in the future with lower doses of insulin. After any hypoglycemic event, insulin doses and food (glucose) intake should be evaluated to adjust therapy and prevent future hypoglycemia. [7][8][9]
Additional adverse reactions may include allergic reactions including local injection site reactions, lipodystrophy, rash, pruritus, and hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is dose-dependent, though the other additional adverse drug reactions are not dose-dependent.
Insulin aspart is contraindicated in patients with documented hypersensitivity to the drug or component of the formulation. It is also contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia, though may be resumed at lower doses once the hypoglycemia resolves. Patients with hypersensitivity to other insulin products may try insulin aspart with the appropriate support in case of a reaction (antihistamine and/or epinephrine as needed).
Critically ill patients receiving insulin aspart should have their glucose monitored every 1 to 2 hours. Non-critically ill patients using insulin aspart should monitor their blood glucose level routinely at home or in the hospital to assess the efficacy of the insulin dose. Preferably, this should be done either before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. Insulin doses should be adjusted based on the monitored blood glucose levels, generally a 105 to 20% adjustment in either direction. All patients on insulin therapy should receive biannual A1c monitoring and annual electrolyte monitoring. Hemoglobin A1c should be monitored quarterly in patients not meeting treatment goals or after changes in therapy.
Monitoring goals according to the American Diabetes Association include fasting blood glucose 80 to 130 mg/dL, peak postprandial (1 to 2 hours after a meal) blood glucose less than 180 mg/dL, and hemoglobin A1c less than 7.0% for non-pregnant adult patients. Glycemic goals may change for individual patients based on the patient’s age, duration of diabetes, comorbid conditions, hypoglycemia unawareness, risks of hypoglycemic events and other individual patient considerations, with less stringent goals for patients with more comorbid conditions or higher risk of harm in a hypoglycemic event.
Toxic effects of insulin aspart include hypoglycemia, which is treated by giving glucose, dextrose, or oral carbohydrates to increase the blood glucose. Patients who can consume oral carbohydrates including glucose gel, tablets, or glucose-containing food should consume 15 grams of carbohydrates to treat the hypoglycemic episode. Wait 15 minutes after eating the glucose to recheck blood glucose, and if it remains hypoglycemic repeat the treatment. Once the glucose returns to normal, the patient should eat a meal within the next hour to prevent recurrence of hypoglycemia. If the patient is unable or unwilling to consume oral glucose, intramuscular glucagon is used for ambulatory patients, either administered by themselves or a caregiver. Intravenous dextrose can be used in conscious and unconscious hospitalized patients with hypoglycemia, administering 10 to 25 g per dose of IV dextrose. Blood glucose level should be monitored 15 minutes after receiving dextrose, and repeat doses of IV dextrose or intramuscular (IM) glucagon may be necessary until blood glucose returns to normal. Additionally, after any hypoglycemic event, doses of insulin should be evaluated and adjusted to prevent additional hypoglycemia.
All healthcare workers including nurse practitioners who use insulin aspart should be familiar with is indications and adverse effects. Insulin aspart is a rapid-acting, human insulin analog that is FDA approved for the treatment of type-1 and type-2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycemic control in adults and children. Insulin aspart may also be used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), though this is not an FDA-approved indication. Insulin aspart should be used in addition to a long-acting (basal) insulin for complete therapy unless used in a continuous subcutaneous (insulin pump) or intravenous insulin infusion. Rapid-acting insulin products target-controlling, after-meal, blood glucose levels, or reducing blood glucose in response to an elevated blood glucose measurement, as in a correctional scale. It is important for healthcare workers to monitor glucose levels closely when administering insulin aspart as it can induce hypoglycemia. Thus, it is always important to have some type of glucose fluid or a meal ready in case hypoglycemia develops.[10]
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