Description
Humulin R contains the active insulin of human insulin. It belongs to a class of drugs called short-acting insulins. (A class of drugs is a group of drugs that work the same way). Humulin R is usually given two to three times a day before meals.
Human insulin is a "recombinant" insulin. This means that it is made in a lab using special DNA technology that combines genetic material to make insulin. This process allows the drug manufacturer to create an exact copy of the insulin that your body naturally makes.
Humulin R is a liquid solution. It is available in two strengths:
Humulin R U-100. This strength contains 100 units of insulin per 1 mL of solution. It is available in 3 mL and 10 mL vials. *
Humulin R U-500. This strength contains 500 units of insulin per 1 mL of solution. It comes in a 20 mL vial. * It is also available as a 3-mL KwikPen, ** which is a pre-thought-out pen that is intended for use by one person.
Humulin R is given as an injection under your skin (called a subcutaneous injection). You will give yourself the injections after your doctor shows you how to give the medicine.
Humulin R has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Before recombinant insulin was made, there were no drugs available that were exact copies of the insulin naturally made by your body. At that time, drug makers used insulin made by animals, including cows and pigs. Pharmaceutical companies used this insulin to make insulin-based drugs that could be given to people.
In clinical trials human insulin (the active drug in Humulin R) has been compared to animal insulin. Studies found that human insulin worked the same way in the human body as animal-based insulins.
Follow-up studies have been done to compare the effects of the newly created drug of human insulin with the effects of animal insulin. Studies found that human insulin worked as well as older animal-based insulins did in improving blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
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