Insulin receptor agonist
- Glucose uptake into muscle/fat
- ↓ hepatic glucose output
- Shifts potassium into cells — the hyperkalemia rescue
- Hypokalemia
- Excess signaling → hypoglycemia
- Weight gain
Drugs with this mechanism (11)
- Insulin — The hormone every insulin product copies.
- Insulin aspart — Rapid prandial analog for meals and pumps; hypoglycemia follows missed food.
- Insulin degludec — Ultra-long-acting basal insulin with an exceptionally flat, flexible profile.
- Insulin detemir — Long-acting albumin-bound basal insulin; discontinued in the US in 2024.
- Insulin glargine — Long-acting basal analog for round-the-clock background coverage.
- Insulin glargine U-300 — Concentrated, flatter basal insulin; longer acting and not directly interchangeable.
- Insulin glulisine — Rapid-acting mealtime insulin analog.
- Insulin icodec — Ultra-long-acting basal insulin-receptor agonist designed to reduce injection frequency.
- Insulin lispro — Rapid-acting prandial analog for mealtime and pump coverage.
- NPH insulin — Intermediate-acting insulin; the classic cloudy basal insulin.
- Regular insulin — Short-acting human insulin; the standard IV insulin for DKA and hyperkalemia.
Self-check
- Why can insulin receptor activation help in hyperkalemia?
It shifts potassium into cells. - What glucose-related harm follows excess insulin signaling?
Hypoglycemia.
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