Insulin derivatives of the general formulae I and IIX--(Y.sub.1 --S--S--Y.sub.2 --Z--"Insulin").sub.m IA--S--Y.sub.3 --Z--"Insulin" IIin whichX is a radical of a physiologically tolerated carbon compound,Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2 and Y.sub.3 are, independently of one another, a chemical bond or an organic chemical bridge,S is a sulfur atom,"Insulin" denotes the biologically active peptidic portion of a natural, semisynthetic or synthetic insulin or an insulin which has been prepared by genetic engineering, or one of its biologically active analogs without the inessential amino group,Z is an amino group which is inessential for the biological activity of insulin,A is a hydrogen atom or the radical of a mercapto-containing, physiologically tolerated hydrocarbon compound, andm is an integer from 1 to 20,agents containing these derivatives, a process for the preparation of these derivatives, and their use for the treatment of metabolic disorders, are described.