Internal medicine

Subcutaneous injection

Dosing

Diabetes mellitus

Absorption (acoustics)

Endocrinology

Composite material

Materials science

Insulin

Medicine

Journal of Diabetes Research

Variability in the effect of subcutaneously administered insulin represents a major challenge in insulin therapy where precise dosing is required in order to achieve targeted glucose levels. Since this variability is largely influenced by the absorption of insulin, a deeper understanding of the factors affecting the absorption of insulin from the subcutaneous tissue is necessary in order to improve glycaemic control and the long-term prognosis in people with diabetes. These factors can be related to either the insulin preparation, the injection site/patient, or the injection technique. This review highlights the factors affecting insulin absorption with special attention on the physiological factors at the injection site. In addition, it also provides a detailed description of the insulin absorption process and the various modifications to this process that have been utilized by the different insulin preparations available.

Factors Affecting the Absorption of Subcutaneously Administered Insulin: Effect on Variability