BD has announced the launch of the BD U-500 Insulin Syringe, the first insulin syringe developed for people with diabetes taking Humulin R U-500 insulin, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly & Company.
Humulin R U-500 (500 units of insulin per 1mL), is concentrated insulin that is indicated for the treatment of high blood sugar in people with diabetes who need to inject more than 200 units of insulin per day. These patients are a critical population of people with diabetes who are considered insulin resistant, meaning their bodies can’t process insulin correctly, and who require larger doses to keep their blood glucose levels under control. A recent estimate indicates up to 3.7 percent of patients with insulin-treated diabetes in the United States have total daily insulin requirements exceeding 200 units, explained the company.
Without a dedicated U-500 insulin syringe, people with diabetes and health care providers are required to take additional steps to manually convert U-500 insulin doses to the appropriate dose or volume when using a traditional U-100 insulin syringe or tuberculin (volumetric) syringe. Before the availability of the U-500 insulin syringe, this conversion could result in dosing errors, which have resulted in patients experiencing hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia or death.
Compared to syringes made for U-100 insulin, the new BD U-500 Insulin Syringe is designed to help make it easier for patients and health care providers to draw the correct dose of U-500 insulin by reducing steps that can result in dosing errors. Humulin R U-500 insulin vials should not be prescribed without BD U-500 insulin syringes.
“Together BD and Lilly Diabetes have the unique opportunity to bring to market a solution that addresses the critical need of a very specific and important population of people with diabetes,” said Dr. Laurence Hirsch, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs for BD Diabetes Care. “This collaboration with Lilly exemplifies BD’s continued commitment to provide solutions for all people with diabetes, regardless of the population size, who need tailored treatment options in order to receive better management of their insulin delivery methods.”
Jeffrey A. Jackson, MD, FACP, FACE, CDE, Medical Fellow, US Medical Affairs, Lilly Diabetes said, “People with diabetes and severe insulin resistance who have become poorly responsive to the effects of insulin may require much higher insulin doses to help keep their blood sugar levels on target. At Lilly, we recognize that people with diabetes have diverse needs and that their insulin delivery devices should reflect their individual needs, and we’re pleased to partner with BD to provide a dedicated U-500 insulin syringe.”
The BD U-500 Insulin Syringe features a 6 mm x 31-gauge syringe needle, the shortest insulin syringe needle available today, which is designed to deliver insulin injections into the subcutaneous tissue while minimizing the risk of intramuscular injection. The BD U-500 Insulin Syringe also has clearly marked dosage labeling designed to distinguish between other syringes to help prevent confusion and incorrect dosing. The new insulin syringe is a 0.5 mL syringe with clear, bold U-500 scale markings in 5-unit increments and allows for dosing up to 250 units. The syringe package and components are color coded to align with the Humulin R U-500 insulin vial green concentration color marking and protective cap.