Lilly announces new color labeling system for insulin products

INDIANAPOLIS People prescribing, dispensing and using insulin for diabetes will be able to accurately identify the type of insulin using a color-coding system introduced Monday.

Eli Lilly announced the introduction of the system for U-100 insulin products marketed in the United States, including vials, pens and individual packaging for Humalog and Humulin.

The system, also used for Humulin and Humalog in Europe, follows the introduction of bar coding of packaging and insulin vials that Lilly instituted in the United States in 2004.

“Insulin is a powerful medicine that has an 85-year track record of efficacy and safety when administered and used properly,” Lilly associate medical director Sherry Martin said. “But if insulin is administered improperly, patients could be put at serious risk of medical injury because blood sugar levels may drop too low.”

Colors indicate insulin family and insulin type and will include burgundy for the Humalog family, blue for the Humulin family and yellow for regular insulin; a blue-yellow combination would indicate Humulin-R.