Formulary
Insulin degludec: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Insulin degludec is a recombinant human insulin analogue with a long duration of action.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Insulin degludec: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Insulin degludec is a recombinant human insulin analogue with a long duration of action.
Drug action
Insulin degludec is a recombinant human insulin analogue with a long duration of action.
Indications and dose
**Diabetes mellitus**
- **Child** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 1-17 years Dose to be given according to requirements.
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): Dose to be given according to requirements.
**Diabetes mellitus for insulin degludec**
- **Child 1-17 years** (By subcutaneous injection): Dose to be given according to requirements.
Side effects
Common or very common Oedema Uncommon Lipodystrophy Frequency not known Cutaneous amyloidosis Overdose Overdose causes hypoglycaemia. Side-effects For insulin degludec Rare or very rare With subcutaneous use Urticaria
Interactions
**Other interactions (5):**
- A number of medicinal products are known to interact with glucose metabolism.
- The following substances may reduce the insulin requirement Oral antidiabetic medicinal products, GLP1 receptor agonists, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), betablockers, angiotensin converting...
- The following substances may increase the insulin requirement Oral contraceptives, thiazides, glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones, sympathomimetics, growth hormone and danazol.
- Octreotide/lanreotide may either increase or decrease the insulin requirement.
- Alcohol may intensify or reduce the hypoglycaemic effect of insulin.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, insulin requirements may alter and doses should be assessed frequently by an experienced diabetes physician. The dose of insulin generally needs to be increased in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Pregnancy For insulin degludec Evidence of the safety of long-acting insulin analogues in pregnancy is limited, therefore isophane insulin is recommended where longer-acting insulins are needed; insulin detemir may also be considered.
Breast feeding
During breast-feeding, insulin requirements may alter and doses should be assessed frequently by an experienced diabetes physician.
Hepatic impairment
Insulin requirements may be decreased.
Renal impairment
The compensatory response to hypoglycaemia is impaired in renal impairment. Dose adjustments Insulin requirements may decrease in patients with renal impairment and therefore dose reduction may be necessary. M
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Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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