The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Humulin® S (insulin soluble human) 100units/ml solution for injection 10ml vials.

This will be out of stock from late May 2024 until mid-June 2024.

Actrapid® (insulin soluble human) 100units/ml 10ml vials remain available and can support increased demand.

Actions for prescribers: 

• do not initiate patients on Humulin® S vials until the resupply date
• review individual patients and consider if insulin vials are still the most appropriate mechanism for insulin delivery
• the excipients of Actrapid® differ from those of Humulin® S vials, therefore before switching ensure that the patient is not intolerant to any of the excipients
• counsel patients that they are receiving the same type of insulin but initially they may need to check their blood glucose levels more closely
• if Actrapid® vials are not considered appropriate, advice should be sought from diabetes team on management options.

Further details can be found in the medicine supply notification download.