PeptideTreatments
Reviewed by Peptide Treatments Medical Advisory Board

Insulin: Research & Evidence

Established Evidence

Published research, clinical trial data, and evidence grading for Insulin across studied indications.

Back to Insulin overview

Research Summary

Insulin has the most extensive evidence base of any peptide therapeutic, with 500+ RCTs, thousands of observational studies, and over 100 years of clinical use since its discovery in 1921. Landmark trials (DCCT, UKPDS, DEVOTE) have established its role in preventing microvascular complications and managing glycemic control. Current research focuses on once-weekly formulations (icodec), ultra-rapid analogs, glucose-responsive 'smart' insulins, and oral delivery systems.

Evidence by Indication (4 indications)

Indication Tier Trials Summary
Type 1 diabetes Tier A 200 Life-sustaining; DCCT showed 76% retinopathy reduction with intensive control
Type 2 diabetes Tier A 300 UKPDS showed 12% reduction in diabetes-related death
Diabetic ketoacidosis Tier A 50 Standard of care — IV insulin infusion protocol
Hyperkalemia Tier A 20 IV insulin + glucose is standard of care for acute hyperkalemia

Graded using our evidence tier methodology.

Research Gap Score /10

Higher score = larger gap between therapeutic potential and available clinical evidence.

Citations (6 sources)

  1. 1. The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development of long-term complications in IDDM Clinical Trial

    The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (1993), New England Journal of Medicine

  2. 2. Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment Clinical Trial

    UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group (1998), Lancet

  3. 3. Effects of intensive glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes Clinical Trial

    The ACCORD Study Group (2008), New England Journal of Medicine

  4. 4. Efficacy and safety of degludec vs glargine in type 2 diabetes Clinical Trial

    Marso SP, et al. (2017), New England Journal of Medicine

  5. 5. Intensive insulin and hypoglycemia mortality: systematic review Review

    Multiple authors (2019), Diabetes Care

  6. 6. Insulin analogs versus human insulin: systematic review Review

    Multiple authors (2012), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews