Absorption rates of subcutaneously injected insulin in the dog as calculated from the plasma insulin levels by means of a simple mathematical model.

The appearance rate of insulin (calculated insulin secretion rate) in the circulating blood after subcutaneous injection was estimated in diabetic dogs from serial measurements of immunoreactive insulin concentrations using a simple mathematical model based on the insulin half-life and the distribution space. In the case of highly purified monocomponent porcine insulin, maximum concentrations occurred after 30-60 min. The duration of insulin appearance was dose-dependent and the rate of appearance could be described by a bi-exponential function. It was linearly dose-dependent but the effect on glycaemia showed saturation kinetics. The action of the injected dose on the fasting glycaemia diminished when the appearance rate became less than 0.3 mU X kg-1 X min-1. Fractional dose recovery was between 70% and 90% and was not different between depot and regular insulin. Appearance kinetics were not significantly affected by the initial glycaemia. The model presented provides a means for quantitative characterization of different insulin preparations.