Available Brands of Insulin Glulisine in India
There are no specific brands of insulin glulisine currently listed as available in the Indian market based on the provided evidence.
Understanding Insulin Glulisine
Insulin glulisine (Apidra) is a rapid-acting insulin analog with the following characteristics:
- Faster onset of action (5-15 minutes), peak effect at 1 hour, and shorter duration of action (approximately 4 hours) compared to regular human insulin 1
- Can be administered immediately before or shortly after meals, providing flexibility in dosing schedule 1, 2
- Effectively controls postprandial glucose excursions in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes 2, 3
Rapid-Acting Insulin Options in India
While specific brands of insulin glulisine in India are not mentioned in the evidence, other rapid-acting insulin analogs that may be available include:
- Insulin lispro (Humalog) - available in U-100 vials and prefilled pens 4, 5
- Insulin aspart (NovoLog/NovoRapid) - available in U-100 vials, cartridges, and prefilled pens 4, 5
Clinical Considerations for Rapid-Acting Insulins
When selecting a rapid-acting insulin analog:
- All rapid-acting analogs (glulisine, lispro, aspart) have similar pharmacokinetic profiles with onset of action 0.25-0.5 hours, peak action 1-3 hours, and duration 3-5 hours 5
- These insulins are not considered interchangeable products and require a prescription change to switch between them 5
- Cost considerations may affect patient access and adherence 4, 5
Dosing Guidelines for Rapid-Acting Insulins
If insulin glulisine becomes available in India, follow these general guidelines:
- Initial dose for mealtime insulin: 4 units per meal or 0.1 units/kg per meal 6
- Consider decreasing basal insulin dose by the same amount as the starting mealtime dose when adding prandial insulin 6
- Administer 15 minutes or less before meals for optimal glycemic control 6
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
- Patients must understand the rapid onset of action to avoid hypoglycemia 6
- When switching between different rapid-acting insulins, patients should be aware that despite similar profiles, they are not identical and may require dose adjustments 5
- Cost considerations are important as insulin prices can vary significantly 4