Types of Insulin (rapid, Short, intermediate, very long)

Learn about their Onset, Peak, and Duration

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