Humulin R -100 iu/ml 10ml vial

Humulin R – Regular Human Insulin 100 IU/ml by Eli Lilly

What is Humulin R?

Humulin R is regular human insulin — the short-acting soluble form of recombinant human insulin by Eli Lilly. Unlike rapid-acting analogues (Humalog, NovoRapid), Humulin R has a slower onset (30–60 min) and must be injected 30 minutes before meals. Available as a 10 ml vial for standard insulin syringe use. Humulin R can also be administered intravenously — the only insulin form suitable for IV use in most clinical protocols. It remains widely used in Bangladesh for its cost-effectiveness, vial format, and established safety record in basal-bolus, sliding scale, and hospital protocols.

Generic Name & Composition

Each ml contains 100 IU of regular human insulin (rDNA origin, produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Regular insulin has the identical amino acid sequence as natural human insulin. After subcutaneous injection, it forms hexamers that must dissociate into dimers and monomers before absorption — causing the 30–60 minute onset delay. Clear and colourless; used with U-100 insulin syringes.

Indications

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus — short-acting mealtime component in basal-bolus regimens
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus — mealtime or supplemental insulin
• Intravenous insulin infusion (IV) for DKA and hyperosmolar states
• Perioperative and hospital glycaemic management
• Sliding scale insulin protocols in clinical settings

How It Works — Mechanism of Action

After subcutaneous injection, regular insulin dissociates from hexamers to monomers and enters the bloodstream over 30–60 minutes. Binds insulin receptors: activating GLUT-4 mediated glucose uptake in muscle and adipose, suppressing hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, promoting glycogen and lipid synthesis. When administered IV, onset is immediate with very short half-life — useful for precise titration in acute settings.

Dosage & Administration

Subcutaneous: Inject 30 minutes before meals. Dose: Individualised — typically 4–20 IU per meal. IV: Only regular insulin can be given IV — for hospital use in DKA, hyperglycaemic crises, perioperative infusions. Syringe: Draw dose from vial using U-100 syringe. Inject subcutaneously (abdomen, thigh, upper arm, buttocks). Rotate sites.

Side Effects

Very common: Hypoglycaemia — particularly late post-meal hypoglycaemia (2–4 hrs after injection) due to prolonged duration vs rapid analogues.

Common: Injection site reactions, lipohypertrophy, weight gain.

Uncommon: Lipoatrophy, peripheral oedema, visual changes at therapy initiation.

Rare: Anaphylaxis, severe allergic reactions.

Drug Interactions

Increase hypoglycaemia risk: Oral antidiabetics, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, MAO inhibitors, salicylates, alcohol.

Reduce insulin effect: Corticosteroids, glucagon, thyroid hormones, thiazides, sympathomimetics, oral contraceptives.

Caution: Beta-blockers mask hypoglycaemia symptoms.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to regular human insulin or any excipient
• Active hypoglycaemia

Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy: Regular human insulin has the longest established safety record in pregnancy. Dose requirements change during gestation — specialist monitoring required. Lactation: Safe during breastfeeding; not orally bioavailable.

Precautions & Warnings

• Inject 30 minutes before meals — requires pre-planning unlike rapid analogues.
• Prolonged duration (5–8 hrs): Higher risk of late post-meal hypoglycaemia. Snack may be needed between meals.
• IV use only for regular insulin — never administer analogues IV in routine protocols.
• Clear solution: Do not use if cloudy or discoloured.

Overdose

Hypoglycaemia lasting 5–8 hours. Mild: oral glucose. Severe: IV dextrose or IM glucagon. Prolonged monitoring required.

Storage Instructions

• Unopened: 2–8°C. Do not freeze.
• In-use vial: Below 30°C or refrigerated. Use within 28 days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Why inject Humulin R 30 minutes before meals?
Regular insulin takes 30–60 minutes to act after injection due to hexamer dissociation. Injecting too close to a meal causes post-meal glucose spikes. A 30-minute lead time matches insulin action with glucose absorption from food.

Q2: Can Humulin R be given intravenously?
Yes — regular insulin is the only form for IV use. Used in DKA, HHS, and perioperative glucose management. Analogues (lispro, aspart, glargine) are not used IV in standard protocols.

Q3: Is Humulin R the same as Actrapid?
Both are regular human insulin 100 IU/ml but from different manufacturers: Humulin R by Eli Lilly, Actrapid by Novo Nordisk. Essentially identical clinical profiles.

Q4: Who manufactures Humulin R?
Eli Lilly and Company (USA). Humulin was the world's first rDNA human insulin, launched in 1982.

⚕ Medical Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. Humulin R is Rx-only. Consult your diabetologist before changing insulin therapy. DiabetesStore.com.bd is a licensed online pharmacy.