{ "schemaVersion": "2.1", "datasetVersion": "2026-09-11.1", "generatedAt": "2026-09-11", "reviewStatus": "Editorial source review is complete. This edition has not been independently medically reviewed.", "editorialBoundary": "Source-checked educational summaries. Topics require evidence and editorial review. This dataset is not a personal treatment plan.", "citation": "When you cite a record, include The Peptide Field, its canonicalPath, this dataset version, and every source used for the claim.", "reuse": "This endpoint grants no additional reuse license. Keep the verdict, scope, evidence basis, review date, and source links together. Do not present a record as medical advice or medical review.", "changeLogPath": "/corrections#correction-ledger", "contactPath": "/corrections", "dataset": "peptide-evidence-checker-record", "canonicalPath": "/peptides/insulin", "canonicalUrl": "https://thepeptidefield.com/peptides/insulin", "record": { "slug": "insulin", "name": "Insulin", "className": "Peptide hormone · family of protein medicines", "sequenceLabel": "51 amino acids in human insulin · multiple analog products", "tier": "Established", "statusLine": "Several FDA-approved insulin products exist, including highly similar versions called biosimilars", "profile": { "humanOutcomes": { "level": "Strong", "note": "Long-term studies that assigned people to groups by chance support closely monitored insulin treatment for specific groups with diabetes." }, "humanPharmacology": { "level": "Strong", "note": "Studies describe when each product starts working, reaches its strongest effect, and wears off." }, "safetyKnowledge": { "level": "Strong", "note": "Product labels and many years of use describe the main risks, especially dangerously low blood sugar." }, "productCertainty": { "level": "Strong", "note": "High when the product is a real approved product. The exact product and its ingredients still matter." } }, "oneLine": "Insulin is a family of diabetes medicines. Different products can have different timing, risks, and instructions.", "reviewedAt": "August 30, 2026", "whatItIs": "“Insulin” does not name one single product. It is a hormone made by the pancreas. It is also the name for a family of diabetes medicines. Products may be rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, or mixed. These products have different timing, risks, and instructions.", "whatWeKnow": "The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) put 1,441 people with type 1 diabetes into groups by chance. It compared an intensive insulin plan with a less intensive plan. It followed them for about 6.5 years. The intensive plan lowered the risk of new or worsening eye, kidney, and nerve problems. It also led to two to three times as many severe low-blood-sugar events. Insulin is essential for type 1 diabetes. Insulin treats other forms of diabetes too.", "whatWeDoNotKnow": "One insulin plan is not right for everyone. Products, schedules, targets, and treatment levels vary by person and product. Evidence for one product, group, or plan does not support switching products on your own. It also does not show that every product can be exchanged freely or used for non-medical reasons.", "safetyBoundary": "Hypoglycemia means dangerously low blood sugar. It can be severe and life-threatening. Product mix-ups and changes without medical guidance can cause serious harm. This guide does not give dose calculations, correction factors, injection steps, or advice for changing an insulin plan.", "claims": [ { "claim": "“Insulin is an established treatment for diabetes.”", "verdict": "Supported with scope", "explanation": "Several insulin products have FDA approval. Long-term studies in people support closely monitored insulin plans for specific groups with diabetes. The exact product and care setting still matter.", "category": "Clinical outcomes", "evidenceBasis": "Randomized human outcomes", "scope": "FDA-approved insulin products and closely monitored treatment plans for specific groups with diabetes.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/insulin", "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8366922/" ] }, { "claim": "“All insulin products work the same way and can be swapped freely.”", "verdict": "Misleading", "explanation": "Insulin products can differ in how fast they work and how much medicine they contain. They can also differ in how they enter the body and what their FDA labels allow. Some biosimilars can be substituted under state law. This does not make every insulin product freely exchangeable.", "category": "Product equivalence", "evidenceBasis": "Regulatory or product record", "scope": "The exact insulin products, amounts of medicine, ways to give them, and labels reviewed.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c8ecbd7a-0e22-4fc7-a503-faa58c1b6f3f", "https://www.fda.gov/drugs/biosimilars/biosimilars-basics-patients" ] }, { "claim": "“More intensive insulin treatment is always better.”", "verdict": "Misleading", "explanation": "The DCCT found fewer long-term complications with an intensive plan. It also found about two to three times as many severe low-blood-sugar events. The right treatment level differs by person and needs medical monitoring.", "category": "Clinical outcomes", "evidenceBasis": "Randomized human outcomes", "scope": "The specific intensive plan and people with type 1 diabetes studied in the DCCT.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8366922/", "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9000705/" ] } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Insulin: patient and product overview", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "url": "https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/insulin", "kind": "Regulatory", "accessedAt": "2026-08-30", "year": 2026 }, { "label": "HUMALOG (insulin lispro) label, updated June 2026", "publisher": "DailyMed · National Library of Medicine", "url": "https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c8ecbd7a-0e22-4fc7-a503-faa58c1b6f3f", "kind": "Drug label", "year": 2026, "accessedAt": "2026-08-30" }, { "label": "HUMALOG (insulin lispro) FDA prescribing information, revised 05/2025", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "url": "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/020563s214%2C205747s038lbl.pdf", "kind": "Drug label", "year": 2025, "accessedAt": "2026-08-30" }, { "label": "The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on long-term complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus", "publisher": "PubMed · New England Journal of Medicine", "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8366922/", "kind": "Randomized trial", "accessedAt": "2026-08-30", "year": 1993 }, { "label": "Hypoglycemia in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial", "publisher": "PubMed · Diabetes", "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9000705/", "kind": "Randomized trial", "accessedAt": "2026-08-30", "year": 1997 }, { "label": "FDA approves the first rapid-acting insulin biosimilar product for diabetes", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "url": "https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-rapid-acting-insulin-biosimilar-product-treatment-diabetes", "kind": "Regulatory", "accessedAt": "2026-08-30", "year": 2026 }, { "label": "Biosimilars basics for patients", "publisher": "U.S. Food and Drug Administration", "url": "https://www.fda.gov/drugs/biosimilars/biosimilars-basics-patients", "kind": "Regulatory", "year": 2026, "accessedAt": "2026-08-30" }, { "label": "2026 WADA Prohibited List", "publisher": "World Anti-Doping Agency", "url": "https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf", "kind": "Anti-doping", "year": 2026, "accessedAt": "2026-08-30" } ], "aliases": [ "human insulin", "insulin analog", "rapid-acting insulin", "basal insulin" ], "family": "Metabolic peptide medicines", "evidenceContext": "Approved human outcomes", "productContext": "The name insulin covers many FDA-approved products. They can differ in the amount of medicine, how long they work, how they enter the body, and what their labels allow.", "approvedProducts": [ "Multiple human insulin and insulin analog products" ], "productRecords": [ { "name": "Humalog", "formulation": "Several strengths and delivery forms listed in the label", "route": "Injection under the skin. Humalog U-100 can also be used in some insulin pumps. Its label allows medical staff to give the U-100 form through a vein after dilution and with close monitoring. The U-200 form must not be used through a vein.", "indicationScope": "Diabetes treatment for the people and uses listed in the current Humalog label. This example does not describe every insulin product.", "labelUrl": "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/020563s214%2C205747s038lbl.pdf", "labelRevision": "May 2025" } ], "indications": [ "Diabetes treatment for the people listed in each product's label" ], "reviewedAtISO": "2026-08-30", "reviewHistory": [ { "date": "2026-08-30", "note": "Checked the current Humalog label, the main DCCT results, and the 2026 WADA rule for insulin. Kept the product and study limits." }, { "date": "2026-07-23", "note": "Expanded product, safety, and claim source details." } ], "antiDoping": "The 2026 WADA list places insulin in S4.4.2, Insulins and insulin-mimetics. It is prohibited at all times unless an applicable therapeutic-use exemption allows it.", "antiDopingReview": { "status": "Prohibited", "detail": "The 2026 WADA list prohibits insulin at all times for athletes it covers, unless an applicable therapeutic-use exemption allows it.", "sourceUrl": "https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf", "reviewedAtISO": "2026-08-30" }, "relatedSlugs": [ "semaglutide", "liraglutide", "tirzepatide" ] } }