| Diabetes Mellitus

Tresiba vs Humulin R U-500

Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus.
Deep comparison between: Tresiba vs Humulin 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 signalsHumulin has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Tresiba based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Humulin but not Tresiba, including UnitedHealthcare
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Tresiba
Humulin
At A Glance
SC injection
Once daily
Long-acting basal insulin analog
SC injection
2-3 times daily
Human insulin
Indications
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Diabetes Mellitus
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 SC once daily; starting dose for insulin-naive adults approximately one-third to one-half of total daily insulin dose with remainder as short-acting insulin divided among meals; when switching, adults start at same unit dose as total daily long/intermediate-acting insulin, pediatric patients (1 year and older) start at 80% of that dose.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 SC once daily; starting dose 10 units for insulin-naive adults; when switching, start at same unit dose as total daily long/intermediate-acting insulin.
Diabetes Mellitus SC injection 2-3 times daily approximately 30 minutes before meals; individualize dose based on metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal; do not mix with other insulins or administer IV.
Contraindications
  • Episodes of hypoglycemia
  • Hypersensitivity to insulin degludec or any excipient in TRESIBA
  • Active episodes of hypoglycemia
  • Hypersensitivity to HUMULIN R U-500 or any of its excipients
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, sinusitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhea
Serious Hypoglycemia, hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, shock), hypokalemia
Postmarketing Localized cutaneous amyloidosis at injection site, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia with repeated injections into amyloidosis-affected areas
Most common Hypoglycemia
Serious Severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, shock; hypokalemia
Postmarketing Lipodystrophy, localized cutaneous amyloidosis, injection site reactions, weight gain, peripheral edema, anti-insulin antibodies
Pharmacology
Long-acting basal insulin analog that lowers blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production; TRESIBA forms multi-hexamers after SC injection creating a subcutaneous depot, with protracted action due to delayed absorption from subcutaneous tissue and binding to circulating albumin.
Human insulin; lowers blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production, and also inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis while enhancing protein synthesis.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Tresiba
  • Covered on 5 commercial plans
  • PA (1/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
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Humulin
  • Covered on 5 commercial plans
  • PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
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UnitedHealthcare
Tresiba
  • Covered on 4 commercial plans
  • PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (2/8)
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Humulin
  • Covered on 4 commercial plans
  • PA (1/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (6/8)
View full coverage details ›
Humana
Tresiba
  • Covered on 0 commercial plans
  • PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
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Humulin
  • Covered on 0 commercial plans
  • PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
View full coverage details ›
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Tresiba.
No savings programs available for Humulin.
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TresibaView full Tresiba profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.