Insulin: What are the different types

• Begins to work about 15 minutes after injection
• Peaks in about 1 hour
• Continues to work for 2 to 4 hours
• Types: Insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin lispro (Humalog), and insulin aspart (Novorapid)

Regular or Short-Acting Insulin

• Usually reaches the bloodstream within 30 minutes after injection
• Peaks anywhere from 2 to 3 hours after injection
• Is effective for approximately 3 to 6 hours
• Types: Humulin R,

Intermediate-Acting Insulin

• Generally reaches the bloodstream about 2 to 4 hours after injection
• Peaks 4 to 12 hours later
• Is effective for about 12 to 18 hours
• Types: NPH (Humulin N,

Long-Acting Insulin

• Reaches the bloodstream several hours after injection
• Tends to lower glucose levels fairly evenly over a 24-hour period
• Types: Insulin detemir (Levemir) and insulin glargine (Lantus)

Premixed insulin

• Premixed insulin benefits people who have difficulty drawing up insulin out of two bottles and drawing up accurate doses. Premixed insulin is also convenient for people whose diabetes has been maintained on this combination.