QUESTO HUB
QUESTO HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM Clinical Pharmacology & Maternal-Fetal Drug Safety Center
Document ID: Q-PREG-9DB488EA
Date Issued: October 06, 2026
Regulatory Base: US FDA (PLLR 8.1/8.2) & NIH LactMed®
Verified Portal: questocomm.com/pregnancy-safety/insulin
OFFICIAL CLINICAL MONOGRAPH

INSULIN

Evidence-Based Medication Safety Profile for Maternal & Lactation Practice
Pregnancy & Lactation Center
Clinical Monograph Prescription / OTC (.Insulin Aspart Protamine and Insulin Aspart)
Human Data Available

Insulin

UNII Code D933668QVX
RxNorm CUI 847191
Prescribing & Clinical Reference: Compiled from official regulatory labeling (US FDA PLLR, NIH LactMed®, EMA). Clinical decisions during pregnancy and lactation require individualized patient assessment and physician consultation.

1. Pregnancy Evidence & Regulatory Labeling

FDA Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR 8.1) & EMA SmPC Section 4.6

Clinical Risk Summary

There are no available data with Insulin Aspart Protamine and Insulin Aspart Mix 70/30 (referred to as Insulin Aspart Protamine and Insulin Aspart ) in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. Available information from published randomized controlled trials with insulin aspart use during the second trimester of pregnancy have not reported an association with insulin aspart and major birth defects or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes [see Data] . There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy [see Clinical Considerations] . In animal reproduction studies, administration of subcutaneous insulin aspart to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis did not cause adverse developmental effects at exposures 8-times and equal to the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, respectively. Pre- and post-implantation losses and visceral/skeletal abnormalities were seen at higher exposures, which are considered secondary to maternal hypoglycemia. These effects were similar to those observed in rats administered regular human insulin [see Data] . The estimated background risk of major birth defects is 6-10% in women with pre-gestational diabetes with a HbA 1c >7% and has been reported to be as high as 20-25% in women with a HbA 1c >10%. The estimated background risk of miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo-Fetal Risk Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, still birth, and macrosomia related morbidity. Data Human Data Published data from 5 randomized controlled trials of 441 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin aspart during the late 2 nd trimester of pregnancy did not identify an association of insulin aspart with major birth defects or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. However, these studies cannot definitely establish the absence of any risk because of methodological limitations, including a variable duration of treatment and small size of the majority of the trials. Animal Data Fertility, embryo-fetal and pre- and postnatal development studies have been performed with insulin aspart and regular human insulin in rats and rabbits. In a combined fertility and embryo-fetal development study in rats, insulin aspart was administered before mating, during mating, and throughout pregnancy. Further, in a pre- and postnatal development study insulin aspart was given throughout pregnancy and during lactation to rats. In an embryo-fetal development study insulin aspart was given to female rabbits during organogenesis. The effects of insulin aspart did not differ from those observed with subcutaneous regular human insulin. Insulin aspart, like human insulin, caused pre- and post-implantation losses and visceral/skeletal abnormalities in rats at a dose of 200 units/kg/day (approximately 32 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents) and in rabbits at a dose of 10 units/kg/day (approximately three times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents). No significant effects were observed in rats at a dose of 50 units/kg/day and in rabbits at a dose of 3 units/kg/day. These doses are approximately 8 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rats and equal to the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rabbits, based on human exposure equivalents. The effects are considered secondary to maternal hypoglycemia.

Human Pregnancy Experience & Clinical Studies

Published data from 5 randomized controlled trials of 441 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin aspart during the late 2 nd trimester of pregnancy did not identify an association of insulin aspart with major birth defects or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. However, these studies cannot definitely establish the absence of any risk because of methodological limitations, including a variable duration of treatment and small size of the majority of the trials. Animal Data Fertility, embryo-fetal and pre- and postnatal development studies have been performed with insulin aspart and regular human insulin in rats and rabbits. In a combined fertility and embryo-fetal development study in rats, insulin aspart was administered before mating, during mating, and throughout pregnancy. Further, in a pre- and postnatal development study insulin aspart was given throughout pregnancy and during lactation to rats. In an embryo-fetal development study insulin aspart was given to female rabbits during organogenesis. The effects of insulin aspart did not differ from those observed with subcutaneous regular human insulin. Insulin aspart, like human insulin, caused pre- and post-implantation losses and visceral/skeletal abnormalities in rats at a dose of 200 units/kg/day (approximately 32 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents) and in rabbits at a dose of 10 units/kg/day (approximately three times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents). No significant effects were observed in rats at a dose of 50 units/kg/day and in rabbits at a dose of 3 units/kg/day. These doses are approximately 8 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rats and equal to the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rabbits, based on human exposure equivalents. The effects are considered secondary to maternal hypoglycemia.

Animal Reproductive & Developmental Toxicity Data

Fertility, embryo-fetal and pre- and postnatal development studies have been performed with insulin aspart and regular human insulin in rats and rabbits. In a combined fertility and embryo-fetal development study in rats, insulin aspart was administered before mating, during mating, and throughout pregnancy. Further, in a pre- and postnatal development study insulin aspart was given throughout pregnancy and during lactation to rats. In an embryo-fetal development study insulin aspart was given to female rabbits during organogenesis. The effects of insulin aspart did not differ from those observed with subcutaneous regular human insulin. Insulin aspart, like human insulin, caused pre- and post-implantation losses and visceral/skeletal abnormalities in rats at a dose of 200 units/kg/day (approximately 32 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents) and in rabbits at a dose of 10 units/kg/day (approximately three times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents). No significant effects were observed in rats at a dose of 50 units/kg/day and in rabbits at a dose of 3 units/kg/day. These doses are approximately 8 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rats and equal to the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rabbits, based on human exposure equivalents. The effects are considered secondary to maternal hypoglycemia.

Clinical Considerations for Prescribers

Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo-Fetal Risk Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, still birth, and macrosomia related morbidity. Data Human Data Published data from 5 randomized controlled trials of 441 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin aspart during the late 2 nd trimester of pregnancy did not identify an association of insulin aspart with major birth defects or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. However, these studies cannot definitely establish the absence of any risk because of methodological limitations, including a variable duration of treatment and small size of the majority of the trials. Animal Data Fertility, embryo-fetal and pre- and postnatal development studies have been performed with insulin aspart and regular human insulin in rats and rabbits. In a combined fertility and embryo-fetal development study in rats, insulin aspart was administered before mating, during mating, and throughout pregnancy. Further, in a pre- and postnatal development study insulin aspart was given throughout pregnancy and during lactation to rats. In an embryo-fetal development study insulin aspart was given to female rabbits during organogenesis. The effects of insulin aspart did not differ from those observed with subcutaneous regular human insulin. Insulin aspart, like human insulin, caused pre- and post-implantation losses and visceral/skeletal abnormalities in rats at a dose of 200 units/kg/day (approximately 32 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents) and in rabbits at a dose of 10 units/kg/day (approximately three times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day, based on human exposure equivalents). No significant effects were observed in rats at a dose of 50 units/kg/day and in rabbits at a dose of 3 units/kg/day. These doses are approximately 8 times the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rats and equal to the human subcutaneous dose of 1 unit/kg/day for rabbits, based on human exposure equivalents. The effects are considered secondary to maternal hypoglycemia.

2. Lactation & Breastfeeding Safety

NIH / NLM LactMed® Database & FDA Labeling Section 8.2

Summary of Use during Lactation

Review infant exposure and nursing considerations before administration.

Drug Levels in Breast Milk & Relative Infant Dose

Relative Infant Dose (RID) Indexed in Clinical Studies RID <10% is generally considered low by clinical guidelines.
Milk Concentration & Transport

Evaluated in human/animal pharmacokinetic models.

3. Females & Males of Reproductive Potential

FDA Labeling Section 8.3 — Pregnancy Testing, Contraception & Infertility

Pregnancy Testing

Standard pre-treatment clinical assessment as indicated.

Contraception & Washout

Review contraception duration based on drug elimination half-life.

Infertility Considerations

No significant drug-induced impairment reported in standard models.

4. Regulatory Source Provenance & Comparison

Direct attribution to official regulatory documents without synthesized consensus

Regulatory Organization Jurisdiction Document / Framework Effective Date Official Source Link
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Prescribing Information (PLLR)
United States regulatory_label 2024-02-22 Official Record
European Medicines Agency (EMA)
EMA Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC 4.6)
European Union regulatory_label Recent Official Record
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FDA Prescribing Information (PLLR)
United States
Framework: regulatory_label
Effective Date: 2024-02-22
View Official Regulatory Record
European Medicines Agency (EMA) EMA Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC 4.6)
European Union
Framework: regulatory_label
Effective Date: Recent
View Official Regulatory Record

System Notice

Confirm Action