Description
Tresiba (Insuline) 100 iu/ml Flextouch
Tresiba is a brand of insulin degludec, a long-acting basal insulin supplied here as a 100 IU/mL prefilled FlexTouch pen. It is used as replacement insulin to help improve blood glucose control in diabetes. The product is designed to provide a prolonged, steady glucose-lowering effect rather than rapid meal-time coverage.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is insulin degludec. It belongs to the class of long-acting basal insulin analogues used in diabetes management. As an insulin analogue, it is structurally modified to produce a flatter and longer action profile than many older basal insulins.
Established Medical Uses
Authoritative regulatory sources describe Tresiba as a treatment for diabetes mellitus. In European product information, it is authorised for adults with diabetes, while U.S. prescribing information includes type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults and children aged 1 year and older. Tresiba is intended to provide basal insulin coverage and is commonly used as part of an overall diabetes treatment plan when insulin replacement is required.
How It Works
Insulin degludec works like naturally occurring insulin by helping glucose move from the bloodstream into body tissues for use or storage. After injection under the skin, it forms a depot that releases insulin slowly and continuously, which supports long-lasting basal insulin activity. This slow release helps maintain a more stable insulin effect over time.
Important Safety Information
Tresiba should not be used during episodes of hypoglycaemia, and it is contraindicated in people with hypersensitivity to insulin degludec or any excipient in the product. Important precautions include the risk of severe hypoglycaemia, particularly when insulin therapy is changed, when meals or physical activity change, or in people with renal or hepatic impairment. Clinical guidance also warns that insulin labels should be checked carefully to avoid mix-ups with other insulin products.
Drug interactions are clinically important. Medicines that can alter glucose control may increase or decrease insulin requirements. Beta-blockers and other anti-adrenergic medicines may reduce or mask the warning signs of hypoglycaemia. Corticosteroids and several other drug groups may reduce the glucose-lowering effect of insulin. Use with thiazolidinediones may increase the risk of fluid retention and heart failure in susceptible patients.
Possible Side Effects
The most important adverse effect of insulin degludec is hypoglycaemia. Other recognised reactions include injection-site reactions, allergic reactions, lipodystrophy, pruritus, rash, and weight gain in some patients. Serious but less common risks include severe hypersensitivity reactions, hypokalaemia, and fluid retention, especially with certain concomitant medicines.
Scientific Evidence
Clinical studies and systematic reviews have shown that insulin degludec provides effective basal glycaemic control in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Compared with some other long-acting basal insulins, evidence from meta-analyses suggests similar overall glucose-lowering efficacy with a lower risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia in several study populations. Research also supports its pharmacological profile as an ultra-long-acting insulin with low day-to-day variability.
Medical Information Notice
This page is an educational summary based on sources available at the time of review. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, prescribing information, or assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- European Medicines Agency. Tresiba EPAR – Product Information. View official medicine information
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. TRESIBA (insulin degludec) injection, solution – DailyMed label. View official prescribing label
- Jiten Vora et al. Insulin degludec versus insulin glargine in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of endpoints in phase 3a trials. Diabetes Therapy, 2014. View scientific article
- Zhi-Yuan Dong et al. Efficacy and Tolerability of Insulin Degludec Versus Other Long-acting Basal Insulin Analogues in the Treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Clinical Therapeutics, 2022. View scientific article