Types of insulin

Agents Onset Peak Duration Indications

Rapid Acting Drugs

lispro (Humalog) aspart (NovoLog) glulisine (Apidra)

Rapid Acting Onset Peak Duration

Onset: 5 to 15 minutes. Peak: 30 to 60 minutes. Duration: 2 to 4 hours

Rapid Acting Indications

Used for rapid reduction of glucose level to treat postprandial hyperglycemia or to prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia

Short Acting Drugs

regular (Humulin R Novolin R Iletin II Regular)

Short Acting Onset Peak Duration

Onset: 30 to 60 minutes. Peak: 2 to 3 hours. Duration: 4 to 6 hours

Short Acting Indications

Usually given 20 to 30 minutes before a meal and taken alone or in combination with longer acting insulin

Intermediate Acting Drugs

NPH (Humulin N Iletin II Lente Iletin II NPH Novolin N)

Intermediate Acting Onset Peak Duration

Onset: 2 to 4 hours. Peak: 4 to 12 hours. Duration: 16 to 20 hours

Intermediate Acting Indications

Usually taken after food

Very Long Acting Drugs

glargine (Lantus Toujeo) detemir (Levemir)

Very Long Acting Onset Peak Duration

Onset: 1 to 6 hours. Peak: Continuous with no peak. Duration: 24 to 36 hours

Very Long Acting Indications

Used for basal dose

Rapid Acting Inhaled Insulin Drugs

Afrezza

Rapid Acting Inhaled Insulin Onset Peak Duration

Onset: less than 15 minutes. Peak: 50 minutes. Duration: 2 to 3 hours

Rapid Acting Inhaled Insulin Indications

Used as rapid acting insulin