| Diabetes Mellitus

Afrezza - (Insulin Human) Inhalation Powder vs Humalog 50/50

Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus.
Deep comparison between: Afrezza vs Humalog with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.
Safety signalsHumalog has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Afrezza based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Humalog but not Afrezza, including UnitedHealthcare
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Afrezza
Humalog
At A Glance
Oral inhalation
At each meal
Rapid-acting insulin
SC injection
Twice daily
Insulin analog
Indications
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Diabetes Mellitus
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus Insulin-naive patients: 4 units inhaled at the beginning of each meal; patients switching from subcutaneous mealtime insulin convert per table (up to 3 units -> 4 units, 4-5 units -> 8 units, 6-7 units -> 12 units, >=8 units -> 16 units); adjust dose based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring, and glycemic control goal.
Diabetes Mellitus Inject subcutaneously within 15 minutes before a meal into the abdominal wall, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks; typically dosed twice daily, with each dose intended to cover 2 meals or a meal and a snack; individualize dosage based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal.
Contraindications
  • Episodes of hypoglycemia
  • Chronic lung disease such as asthma or COPD due to risk of acute bronchospasm
  • Previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to any regular human insulin product or any inactive ingredient in AFREZZA
  • During episodes of hypoglycemia
  • Known hypersensitivity to HUMALOG Mix50/50 or any of its excipients
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=2%) Cough, throat pain or irritation, headache, diarrhea, productive cough, fatigue, nausea
Serious Acute bronchospasm, hypoglycemia, decline in pulmonary function, lung cancer, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypersensitivity reactions
Postmarketing Bronchospasm
Most common Hypoglycemia
Serious Severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, hypokalemia
Postmarketing Ophthalmologic refraction disorder, worsening of diabetic retinopathy, acute painful peripheral neuropathy, injection site reactions (redness, swelling, itching), lipodystrophy, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, peripheral edema, weight gain, anti-insulin antibody formation
Pharmacology
Insulin lowers blood glucose in adult patients with diabetes mellitus by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and fat and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production; it also inhibits lipolysis in adipocytes, inhibits proteolysis, and enhances protein synthesis.
Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting human insulin analog that regulates glucose metabolism by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production; Humalog Mix50/50 combines 50% insulin lispro (rapid-acting) and 50% insulin lispro protamine suspension (intermediate-acting) to provide both rapid onset and prolonged glucose-lowering activity.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Afrezza
  • Covered on 5 commercial plans
  • PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
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Humalog
  • Covered on 5 commercial plans
  • PA (0/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
View full coverage details ›
UnitedHealthcare
Afrezza
  • Covered on 4 commercial plans
  • PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
View full coverage details ›
Humalog
  • Covered on 4 commercial plans
  • PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (6/8)
View full coverage details ›
Humana
Afrezza
  • Covered on 0 commercial plans
  • PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
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Humalog
  • Covered on 0 commercial plans
  • PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (2/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
View full coverage details ›
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
$99/momo
Afrezza Patient Direct Program
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
No savings programs available for Humalog.
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AfrezzaView full Afrezza profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.