In June of 2020, the FDA approved a new ultra-rapid acting mealtime insulin for those living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, called Lyumjev.
Rapid-acting insulin, also called fast-acting insulin is absorbed into the bloodstream within minutes and is often used in the treatment of diabetes.
There are 4 different formulations of rapid acting insulin, with a new one entrant developed by Eli-Lilly that was approved by the FDA in the United States in the summer of 2020. We will be comparing how it stacks up against the incumbents.
| Insulin Name | Brand Name |
| Lispro | Humalog |
| Aspart | NovoLog |
| Fast Acting Aspart | Fiasp |
| Ultra Rapid Lispro (URLi) | Lyumjev |
In September 2019, The European Association for The Study of Diabetes, compared all 3 current rapid acting insulins against Eli Lilly’s new rapid acting insulin under development, Lyumjev.
How did Lyumjev Compare to Other Rapid Acting Insulins?
- Compared to Humalog, Lyumjev had an 8 times faster insulin exposure in the first 15 minutes after injection
- Compared to Humalog, Lyumjev 10-minute faster onset of action
- In the first hour, Lyumjev had the fastest onset compared to the other rapid acting insulins (Fiasp, Humalog, NovoLog). It was 5 times faster compared to Humalog, in initial onset.
- Lyumjev had the lowest post meal blood sugar. 1.4 mmol/L lower than Humalog and 1.7 mmol/L lower than Fiasp.
- 4 hours post-meal, Lyumjev showed the lowest numbers of excursions outside target blood sugar levels. Lyumjev had 47% less blood sugar excursions outside target than Humalog and 52% less than Fiasp.
It is also really important to keep your insulin cool at all times to ensure it does not go bad. I personally use this insulin cooler when I go out in the city, go biking in the summer, or to the beach. It is highly recommneded and worth the one time investment.
We also put some of our favourite accessories for storing insulin. Have a look at our collection below:
We are always excited to see innovation in the field of Diabetes. After Lyumjev has been out for a few months, we will be coming back and writing about reviews from people that have used it to see what their experience has been like. So stay tuned!
Disclaimer: The content is for entertainment purposes only, and is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional. The writer is not a licensed medical doctor.
If you choose to do anything discussed in this article, you do so at your own risk with the full understanding of any side effects that are incurred.
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I was on Lyumjev for 8 months and very satisfied with the quick effecting time, taking in to account I inject just after finishing a meal.. The only problem I encountered with Lyumjev were painful injection sites, lasting between hours to half a day, on arms, legs, stomach and buttocks. This may well be a rare or unusual side-effect. A nurse at the diabetes clinic I’m registered at suggested I switch to Fiasp, No more painful injection sites but Fiasp takes significantly longer to kick-in upon injecting, To avoid experiencing the unwanted high spikes, jabs are now needed 10-15 minutes pre-meals. Not sure if Fiasp is that much quicker than Novorapid, the insulin I used for many years.