Insulin is divided into types, based on how long it is active in your body. This helps match insulin with a specific need.
Rapid Acting Intended to be taken at the same time as meals
Humalog or lispro
- Onset: 15-30 minutes
- Peak 30-90 minutes
- Duration 3-5 hrs
- Should be taken 15 minutes before or immediately after a meal
- Humalog Prescribing Info
Novalog, AKA Novorapid, aspart
- Onset: 5-10 minutes
- Peak: 40-50 minutes
- Duration: 3-5 hrs
- Should be given 5-10 minutes before the start of a meal
- Novolog Prescribing Info
Apidra or glulisine
- Onset: 20-30 minutes
- Peak: 60-90 minutes
- Duration: 1-2.5 hrs
- Take 15 minutes before to 20 minutes after starting a meal
- Apidra Prescribing Info
Short-acting Intended for meals eaten within 30 - 60 minutes
Humulin
- Onset: 30-60 minutes
- Peak 2-5 hrs
- Duration: 5-8 hrs
Novolin
- Onset: 30-60 minutes
- Peak: 2-5 hrs
- Duration 5-8 hrs
Intermediate-acting Covers your needs for half a day, or overnight
NPH
- Onset: 2-4 hours
- Peak: 4-12 hours
- Duration: 12-18 hours
Lente
- Onset: 1.5 hrs
- Peak: 4-8 hrs
- Duration: 24 hours
Long-acting Intended to last a day
Ultralente (no longer manufactured)
- starts working in 4-6 hours
- active well beyond 32 hours.
Lantus
Levemir or Detemir
Insulin Mixtures
- Starts working in 30 minutes and is active 16 to 24 hours.
- Usually taken twice a day at mealtimes
- There are several variations with different proportions of the mixed insulins.
- Humulin 70/30
- Novolin 70/30
- Novolog 70/30
- Humulin 50/50
- Humalog mix 75/25
This is a work in progress. Contributions welcomed, please send me a
PM Thanks to saraknic for the cool formatting!
-Lloyd
