An insulin derivative having a formula wherein Ins is a parent insulin moiety and Q 1 -Q 2 -[CH 2] n -X 1 -[CH 2] n -Q 3 -[CH 2] n -X 2 -[CH 2] n -Q 4 -[CH 2] n -X 3 -[CH 2] n -Q 5 -[CH 2] n -Z is a substituent and where the Ins is attached to the substituent via an amide bond between the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or an ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins and a CO group in Q 1 or Q 2 of the substituent; each n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; Q 1 is: • an amino acid residue, which residue forms, with its carboxylic acid group, an amide group together with the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or together with the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins, or • a chain composed of two, three or four α-amino acid residues as specified above linked together via amide bonds, which chain - via an amide bond - is linked to the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or to the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins, or • a bond Q 2 is: -CO-(CH 2) 2 -NH-(CH 2) 2 -, or -CO-CH 2 -NH-CH 2 -; Q 3 is -(CH 2) m - where m is 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16; X 1 can be: • O; • -C=O • a bond; • NCOR 1, where R 1 can be H, -CH 3 or -(CH 2) 1-6 -CH 3; or • where R is hydrogen, C 1-3 -alkyl, C 2-3 -alkenyl or C 2-3 -alkynyl; Q 4, Q 5, X 2 and X 3 are bonds and all n are zero, and Z is: -COOH; wherein Ins is a parent insulin moiety and Q 1 -Q 2 -[CH 2] n -X 1 -[CH 2] n -Q 3 -[CH 2] n -X 2 -[CH 2] n -Q 4 -[CH 2] n -X 3 -[CH 2] n -Q 5 -[CH 2] n -Z is a substituent and where the Ins is attached to the substituent via an amide bond between the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or an ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins and a CO group in Q 1 or Q 2 of the substituent; each n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; Q 1 is: • an amino acid residue, which residue forms, with its carboxylic acid group, an amide group together with the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or together with the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins, or • a chain composed of two, three or four α-amino acid residues as specified above linked together via amide bonds, which chain - via an amide bond - is linked to the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or to the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins, or • a bond • an amino acid residue, which residue forms, with its carboxylic acid group, an amide group together with the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or together with the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins, or • a chain composed of two, three or four α-amino acid residues as specified above linked together via amide bonds, which chain - via an amide bond - is linked to the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain of Ins or to the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the A or B chain of Ins, or • a bond Q 2 is: -CO-(CH 2) 2 -NH-(CH 2) 2 -, or -CO-CH 2 -NH-CH 2 -; -CO-(CH 2) 2 -NH-(CH 2) 2 -, or -CO-CH 2 -NH-CH 2 -; Q 3 is -(CH 2) m - where m is 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16; X 1 can be: • O; • -C=O • a bond; • NCOR 1, where R 1 can be H, -CH 3 or -(CH 2) 1-6 -CH 3; or • where R is hydrogen, C 1-3 -alkyl, C 2-3 -alkenyl or C 2-3 -alkynyl; • O; • -C=O • a bond; • NCOR 1, where R 1 can be H, -CH 3 or -(CH 2) 1-6 -CH 3; or • where R is hydrogen, C 1-3 -alkyl, C 2-3 -alkenyl or C 2-3 -alkynyl; Q 4, Q 5, X 2 and X 3 are bonds and all n are zero, and Z is: -COOH; -COOH;