Human Monotard insulin: dose-dependent subcutaneous absorption.

The aim was to study the effect of dose on subcutaneous absorption of semisynthetic human Lente-type insulin (Monotard HM) in IDDM patients. The absorption was evaluated by measurements of residual radioactivity of 125-I labelled insulin at the injection sites. In 9 patients, on consecutive days, 6, 12, 24 and 36 IU of Monotard HM was given subcutaneously. The residual radioactivity was measured up to 49 hr after injections. A dose-dependent absorption was found with significantly decreasing absorption rates for increasing doses. The times for 50% of initial activity to disappear were (doses given in parentheses): 9.0 hr (6 IU), 8.9 hr (12 IU), 10.9 hr (24 IU), 14.8 hr (36 IU).