Professor Zhang Jie: The Core Mechanism of Insulin Degludec/Aspart and Its Significance for Chinese Patients with Diabetes

Professor Zhang Jie from the National Center for Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, states that insulin degludec/insulin aspart has demonstrated consistent and significant HbA1c reduction and low hypoglycemia risk worldwide. The core behind this therapeutic consistency lies in its unique pharmacological design.
Insulin degludec/insulin aspart is a soluble dual-component insulin formulation, composed of 70% ultra-long-acting insulin degludec and 30% rapid-acting insulin aspart.

Insulin aspart is absorbed rapidly after subcutaneous injection, with a fast onset of action, effectively controlling postprandial blood glucose.
Insulin degludec forms a multi-hexamer depot subcutaneously, enabling slow and sustained release to provide steady and prolonged basal insulin coverage.

Most importantly, in this dual insulin formulation, the two components retain their original pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties independently, without interfering with each other.
Pharmacological studies have confirmed that insulin degludec and insulin aspart exhibit distinct action profiles in vivo: one provides long-acting, stable coverage, while the other delivers rapid-acting, peak-prandile control.
This mechanism of “biphasic synergy with independent action” not only achieves potent glucose lowering but also significantly reduces the risk of hypoglycemia.
According to Professor Zhang Jie, insulin degludec/insulin aspart plays an increasingly important role in diabetes management in China. It greatly simplifies the treatment process and offers a highly effective and convenient new option for patients who need intensified glycemic control but are unsuitable or unwilling to receive multiple daily injections.
In clinical practice, this formulation is gradually reducing the traditional reliance on basal-bolus insulin regimens or conventional premixed insulins.
The dual-component design of insulin degludec/insulin aspart—

70% ultra-long-acting insulin degludec for stable basal coverage,
30% rapid-acting insulin aspart for effective control of postprandial glucose excursions

is particularly well-suited to the high-carbohydrate dietary pattern of Chinese patients, achieving stronger clinical adaptability. It combines the stability of basal insulin with the flexibility of prandial insulin.