DM insulin: types, onset, peak, and duration

Rapid-acting insulin names (generic/Brand)

lispro (Humalog)

insulin aspart (NovoLog)

insulin glulisine (Apidra)

Rapid-acting insulin onset

10-30 minutes

Rapid-acting insulin Peak

30 minutes- 3 hours

Rapid-acting insulin Duration

3-5 hours

Rapid-acting insulin is given:

before meals

Short-acting insulin names generic/brand

Regular

Humulin R

Novolin R

Short-acting insulin onset

30-60 minutes

Short-acting insulin Peak

2-5 hours

Short-acting insulin Duration

5-8 hours

Short-acting insulin is regular insulin and given:

before meals

Intermediate insulin names generic/brand

neutral protamine hagedorn insulin (NPH)

NPH onset

1.5 - 4 hrs

NPH peak

4-12 hours

NPH duration

12-18 hours

Levemir (determir) onset

slow onset 3-4 hours

Levemir (determir) peak

3-14 hours hours

Levemir duration

varies with dosage given 6-24 hours

Intermediate insulin is given:

once or twice-a-day with delayed action

Long-acting insulin names generic/brand

insulin glargine (Lantus)

Degludec

Lantus (long-acting) onset

1-4 hours

Lantus (long-acting) peak

"peakless" NONE

Lantus (long-acting) duration

24 hours

Lantus (long-acting) is given:

once daily @ the same time every day.