Insulin lispro
HumalogRCSB PDB 5UDP · 3D model
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A lab-made insulin engineered to absorb faster than natural insulin, so it starts pulling sugar out of the blood within minutes of a meal instead of taking longer to kick in.
How it works
Insulin lispro is regular human insulin with two building blocks swapped in a way that makes it absorb into the bloodstream much faster after injection. Once it's in, it works the same way any insulin does: it tells muscle and fat cells to pull sugar out of the blood and tells the liver to stop releasing more. Because it acts faster and doesn't last as long as older insulins, it's designed to be injected right around mealtime, matching the way your body would naturally respond to eating.
What it’s used for
Insulin lispro is prescribed to help both adults and children with diabetes manage their blood sugar, typically injected around mealtimes.
- Mechanism
- Insulin receptor agonist (rapid-acting analog)
- Drug class
- Peptide analog
- Therapeutic area
- Metabolic / Diabetes