Insulin Detemir Does Not Cross the Human Placenta

Insulin detemir (IDet) is a relatively new long-acting insulin analog that offers improved absorption pharmacokinetics and slower tissue distribution due to high plasma protein binding (1). As IDet is increasingly used for treatment of insulin-requiring diabetes, including women with type 2 diabetes (who may conceive while being treated with IDet) as well as women with gestational diabetes mellitus, its transplacental pharmacokinetics warrants study (2). The placental transfer of IDet in humans has not been previously studied. The objective of this study was to determine whether IDet administered to pregnant women crosses the human placenta. Sixteen pregnant women with either gestational diabetes mellitus (11 subjects) or type 2 diabetes (5 subjects) receiving IDet were enrolled in this institutional review board–approved study after giving informed consent. At delivery, …