Tresiba® (insulin degludec) injection 100 U/mL, 200 U/mL is indicated to improve glycemic control in patients 1 year of age and older with diabetes mellitus.
Important Safety Information | Prescribing Information | Patient Site
Fiasp® (insulin aspart) injection 100 U/mL is a rapid-acting insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
Important Safety Information | Prescribing Information | Patient Site
As patients with T1D navigate through life, they can rely on Tresiba® and Fiasp® to control their blood glucose
Do you have patients like Alan who face daily insulin dose-timing challenges?
“I take my basal insulin in the morning before work. But I sleep in on the weekends, so I’m not sure when I’ll dose.” —Alan
- Adult patients who miss a dose of Tresiba® should inject their daily dose during waking hours upon discovering the missed dose, then continue with their regular dosing schedule1
- Adult patients should wait at least 8 hours between Tresiba® injections1
“When work is hectic, sometimes I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to eat. When I finally get a break to eat, I don’t have time for my mealtime insulin to start working.” — Alan
- Fiasp® can be taken at the start of a meal or within 20 minutes of starting2
- Instruct patients on basal-bolus treatment who forget a mealtime dose to monitor their blood glucose level to decide if an insulin dose is needed and to resume their usual dosing schedule at the next meal
Indications and Usage for Fiasp® (insulin aspart) injection 100 U/mL
Fiasp® (insulin aspart) injection 100 U/mL is a rapid-acting insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
Important Safety Information
Contraindications
- Fiasp® is contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients hypersensitive to Fiasp® or one of its excipients.
Warnings and Precautions
- Never share a Fiasp® FlexTouch® Pen, PenFill® cartridge or PenFill® cartridge device between patients, even if the needle is changed. Patients using Fiasp® vials must never share needles or syringes with another person. Sharing poses a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
- Hyperglycemia or Hypoglycemia with Changes in Insulin Regimen: Changes in an insulin regimen (e.g., insulin strength, manufacturer, type, injection site or method of administration) may affect glycemic control and predispose to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Repeated insulin injections into areas of lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis have been reported to result in hyperglycemia; and a sudden change in the injection site (to an unaffected area) has been reported to result in hypoglycemia. Make any changes to a patient’s insulin regimen under close medical supervision with increased frequency of blood glucose monitoring. Advise patients who have repeatedly injected into areas of lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis to change the injection site to unaffected areas and closely monitor for hypoglycemia. Adjustments in concomitant anti-diabetic treatment may be needed.
- Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse reaction of insulin, including Fiasp®, and may be life-threatening. Increase glucose monitoring with changes to: insulin dosage, co-administered glucose lowering medications, meal pattern, physical activity; and in patients with renal impairment or hepatic impairment or hypoglycemia unawareness.
- To avoid medication errors and accidental mix-ups between Fiasp® and other insulin products, instruct patients to always check the insulin label before injection.
- As with all insulins, Fiasp® use can lead to life-threatening hypokalemia, which then may cause respiratory paralysis, ventricular arrhythmia, and death. Monitor potassium levels in patients at risk for hypokalemia and treat if indicated.
- Severe, life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, may occur with insulin products, including Fiasp®.
- Fluid retention and heart failure can occur with concomitant use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are PPAR-gamma agonists, and insulin, including Fiasp®. Patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of heart failure. If heart failure occurs, dosage reduction or discontinuation of the TZD must be considered.
- Pump or infusion set malfunctions can lead to a rapid onset of hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis. Prompt identification and correction of the cause of hyperglycemia or ketosis is necessary. Interim therapy with subcutaneous injection of Fiasp® may be required. Patients using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump therapy must be trained to administer insulin by injection and have alternate insulin therapy available in case of pump failure.
Drug Interactions
- Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics. Dose reductions and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required.
- Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Fiasp®: Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Dose increases and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required.
- Drugs That May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Fiasp®: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. Pentamidine may cause hypoglycemia, which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycemia. Dose adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required.
- Drugs That May Blunt Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia: Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine. Increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required
Adverse Reactions
- Adverse reactions observed with Fiasp® include hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, hypersensitivity, injection site reactions, lipodystrophy, and weight gain.
Use in Specific Populations
- Pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes treated with mealtime and postmeal Fiasp® reported a higher rate of blood glucose confirmed hypoglycemic episodes compared to patients treated with NovoLog® (insulin aspart) injection; the imbalance was greater during the nocturnal period. Monitor blood glucose levels closely in pediatric patients.
- Like all insulins, Fiasp® requirements may be reduced in patients with renal impairment or hepatic impairment. These patients may require more frequent blood glucose monitoring and dose adjustments.
Please click here for Fiasp® Prescribing Information.
Indications and Usage for Tresiba® (insulin degludec) injection 100 U/mL, 200 U/mL
Tresiba® (insulin degludec) injection is indicated to improve glycemic control in patients 1 year of age and older with diabetes mellitus.
Limitations of Use
Tresiba® is not recommended for treating diabetic ketoacidosis.
Important Safety Information
Contraindications
- Tresiba® is contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients with hypersensitivity to insulin degludec or any of the excipients in Tresiba®
Warnings and Precautions
- Never Share a Tresiba® FlexTouch® Pen, Needle, or Syringe Between Patients, even if the needle is changed. Patients using Tresiba® vials should never share needles or syringes with another person. Sharing poses a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
- Hyperglycemia or Hypoglycemia with Changes in Insulin Regimen: Changes in an insulin regimen (e.g., insulin strength, manufacturer, type, or injection site or method of administration) may affect glycemic control and predispose to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Repeated insulin injections into areas of lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis have been reported to result in hyperglycemia; and a sudden change in the injection site (to an unaffected area) has been reported to result in hypoglycemia. Make any changes to a patient’s insulin regimen under close medical supervision with increased frequency of blood glucose monitoring. Advise patients who have repeatedly injected into areas of lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis to change the injection site to unaffected areas and closely monitor for hypoglycemia. Adjustments in concomitant anti-diabetic treatment may be needed.
- Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse reaction of insulin, including Tresiba®. Severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures, may be life-threatening or cause death. Hypoglycemia can impair concentration ability and reaction time; this may place the patient and others at risk in situations where these abilities are important (e.g., driving or operating other machinery). Hypoglycemia can happen suddenly and symptoms may differ in each patient and change over time in the same patient. Symptomatic awareness of hypoglycemia may be less pronounced in patients with longstanding diabetes, in patients with diabetic neuropathy, using drugs that block the sympathetic nervous system (e.g., beta-blockers) or who experience recurrent hypoglycemia. The long-acting effect of Tresiba® may delay recovery from hypoglycemia compared to shorter-acting insulins.
Risk Factors for Hypoglycemia: The risk of hypoglycemia generally increases with intensity of glycemic control. The risk of hypoglycemia after an injection is related to the duration of action of the insulin and, in general, is highest when the glucose lowering effect of the insulin is maximal. As with all insulins, the glucose lowering effect time course of Tresiba® may vary among different patients or at different times in the same patients and depends on many conditions, including the area of injection as well as the injection site blood supply and temperature. Other factors which may increase the risk of hypoglycemia include changes in meal pattern, changes in level of physical activity, or changes to concomitant drugs. Patients with renal or hepatic impairment may be at higher risk of hypoglycemia. Patients and caregivers must be educated to recognize and manage hypoglycemia. In patients at higher risk for hypoglycemia and patients who have reduced symptomatic awareness of hypoglycemia, increased frequency of blood glucose monitoring is recommended. - Hypoglycemia Due to Medication Errors: Accidental mix-ups between insulin products have been reported. To avoid medication errors between Tresiba® and other insulins, always instruct patients to always check the insulin label before each injection. To avoid dosing errors and potential overdose, never use a syringe to remove Tresiba® from the Tresiba® FlexTouch® disposable insulin prefilled pen.
- Hypersensitivity Reactions: Severe, life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, can occur with insulins, including Tresiba®. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue Tresiba®; treat per standard of care and monitor until symptoms and signs resolve.
- Hypokalemia: All insulins, including Tresiba®, cause a shift in potassium from the extracellular to intracellular space, possibly leading to hypokalemia. Untreated hypokalemia may cause respiratory paralysis, ventricular arrhythmia, and death. Monitor potassium levels in patients at risk for hypokalemia and treat if indicated.
- Fluid Retention and Heart Failure with Concomitant Use of PPAR-gamma Agonists: Fluid retention and heart failure can occur with concomitant use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are PPAR-gamma agonists, and insulin, including Tresiba®. Patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of heart failure. If heart failure occurs, dosage reduction or discontinuation of the TZD must be considered.
Adverse Reactions
- Adverse reactions commonly associated with Tresiba® are hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, injection site reactions, lipodystrophy, pruritus, rash, edema, and weight gain.
Drug Interactions
- There are certain drugs that may cause clinically significant drug interactions with Tresiba®.
- Drugs that may increase the risk of hypoglycemia: antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog (e.g., octreotide), sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT-2 inhibitors
- Drugs that may decrease the blood glucose lowering effect: atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones
- Drugs that may increase or decrease the blood glucose lowering effect: alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, lithium salts, and pentamidine
- Drugs that may blunt the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia: beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine
Please click here for Tresiba® Prescribing Information.
References:
- Tresiba [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc.
- Fiasp [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc.