Brand name: Tresiba FlexTouch
Generic: Insulin degludec
Medication class: Long-acting insulin
Similar drugs: Lantus (insulin glargine), Toujeo (insulin glargine), and Levemir (insulin detemir)
Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk, Inc.
Approval Date: September 25 , 2015

What is Tresiba and how does it work?

Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) is a long-acting insulin analog taken once daily to lower blood sugar in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tresiba is manufactured using recombinant DNA technology.

Insulin is a hormone produced and released by beta cells in the pancreas to help the body regulate blood glucose. The body releases insulin steadily throughout the day in response to rising blood sugar levels from food consumption. 

Like other types of insulin, Tresiba regulates the use of glucose by the body. It lowers blood glucose by stimulating glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and adipose (fat) tissue, and also reduces glucose production in the liver. Insulin enhances protein production and reduces the breakdown of protein into smaller protein molecules (polypeptides) and breakdown of fats to release fatty acids.

Tresiba releases slowly and consistently and works the same way as the body’s insulin. However, Tresiba chemical structure differs from human insulin by the omission of the amino acid threonine in position B-30 of the B-chain, and the subsequent addition of a side chain composed of glutamic acid and a C16 fatty acid. This unique molecular design contributes to Tresiba’s ultra long glucose lowering effect (at least 42 hours). Tresiba acts longer because insulin degludec is slowly absorbed from the subcutaneous tissue into the blood stream.

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