Figure 2.

Schematic representation of the hypothesis for the mode of retarded absorption of insulin degludec.1 Insulin degludec is injected subcutaneously as a zinc phenol formulation containing insulin degludec dihexamers in the T₃R₃ conformation. Rapid loss of phenol changes the degludec hexamers to T₆ configuration and multihexamer chains form. With slow diffusion of zinc, these chains break down into dimers, which quickly dissociate into readily absorbed monomers.

Note: Reproduced from Jonassen I, Havelund S, Hoeg-Jensen T, Steensgaard DB, Wahlund PO, Ribel U. Design of the novel protraction mechanism of insulin degludec, an ultra-long-acting basal insulin. Pharm Res. 2012;29(8): 2104–2114. Copyright © 2012, the authors.1