The reported advantages of lispro are:
It lessens the rise in serum glucose after meals.
Hypoglycemic episodes occur less frequently.
The overall glycemic control is improved in patients with type I diabetes who require insulin pumps.
It has been proposed that lispro would be of benefit to patients with unpredictable mealtimes to allow more schedule flexibility (convenience factor). More clinically-oriented applications may include use in patients with frequent episodes of postprandial hypoglycemia (to decrease their risk), patients with insulin resistance due to insulin antibodies (case reports only) and patients on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy.
There is no firm evidence to support a reduced frequency of symptomatic hypoglycemia by lispro treatment in patients with type I diabetes.
The long-term safety profile of insulin lispro has not been established. In the United States it is not approved for use in children under 12 years of age, whereas in Canada there is no such limitation in the product monograph.