Types of Insulin for Diabetes Treatment

In this article

What Type of Insulin Is Best for My Diabetes?

Insulin Dosing Schedule for Diabetes
Exceptions to Insulin Dosing and Timing
There are many forms of insulin to treat diabetes. They are classified by how fast they
start to work and how long their effects last.
The types of insulin include:

Rapid-acting

Short-acting
Intermediate-acting
Long-acting
Pre-mixed
Assess Yourself: Is Your Type 1 Diabetes Under Control?

What Type of Insulin Is Best for My Diabetes?

Your doctor will work with you to prescribe the type of insulin that is best for you and
your diabetes. Deciding what type of insulin might be best for you will depend on many
factors, including:

Your body's individualized response to insulin (how long it takes insulin to be

absorbed in the body and remain active in the body varies slightly from person to
person).
Your own lifestyle choices -- for instance, the type of food you eat, if/how much

alcohol you drink, or how much exercise you get -- are all factors that influence your
body's processing of insulin.
How willing you are to give yourself multiple injections per day.
How frequently you are willing to check your blood sugar level.
Your age.
Your blood sugar management goals.
A rapid-acting inhaled insulin is now FDA-approved for use before meals for both type 1
and type 2 diabetes. The drug peaks in the blood in about 15-20 minutes, researchers
say, and clears the body in 2-3 hours. Afrezza must be used in combination with longacting insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes

The following chart lists the types of injectable insulin with details about onset (the
length of time before insulin reaches the bloodstream and begins to lower blood
sugar), peak (the time period when the insulin is the most effective in lowering blood
sugar) and duration (how long insulin continues to lower blood sugar). These three
factors may vary, depending on your body's response. The final column provides some
insight into the "coverage" provided by the different insulin types in relation to mealtime.
Type of Insulin & Brand
Names

Onset

Peak

Duration

Role in Blood Sugar

Management

Rapid-Acting
Humalog or lispro

15-30 min.

30-90
min

3-5 hours

Novolog or aspart

10-20 min.

40-50
min.

3-5 hours

Apidra or glulisine

20-30 min.

30-90
min.

1-2 hours

30 min. -1
hour

2-5
hours

5-8 hours

Velosulin (for use in the insulin 30 min.-1

pump)
hour

2-3
hours

2-3 hours

Rapid-acting insulin covers insulin

needs for meals eaten at the
same time as the injection. This
type of insulin is often used with
longer-acting insulin.

Short-Acting
Regular (R) humulin or novolin

Short-acting insulin covers insulin

needs for meals eaten within 3060 minutes

Intermediate-Acting

NPH (N)

1-2 hours

4-12
hours

18-24 hours

Intermediate-acting insulin covers

insulin needs for about half the
day or overnight. This type of
insulin is often combined with
rapid- or short-acting insulin.

1-1
hour

No peak time;
insulin is
delivered at a
steady level

20-24 hours

1-2
hours

6-8 hours

Up to 24 hours

Long-Acting
Long-acting insulin covers
insulin needs for about one full
day. This type of insulin is
Lantus
often combined, when needed, (insulin
with rapid- or short-acting
glargine)
insulin.
Levemir
(insulin
detemir)
Pre-Mixed*
Humulin 70/30

30 min.

2-4
hours

14-24 hours

Novolin 70/30

30 min.

2-12

Up to 24 hours

These products are generally

taken two or three times a day
before mealtime.

hours
Novolog 70/30

10-20 min.

1-4
hours

Up to 24 hours

Humulin 50/50

30 min.

2-5
hours

18-24 hours

15 min.

30
min.2
hours

16-20 hours

Humalog mix 75/25

*Premixed insulins are a combination of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting

insulin in one bottle or insulin pen (the numbers following the brand name indicate the percentage of
each type of insulin).

Types of Insulin for Diabetes Treatment

(continued)

In this article

What Type of Insulin Is Best for My Diabetes?

Insulin Dosing Schedule for Diabetes
Exceptions to Insulin Dosing and Timing

Insulin Dosing Schedule for Diabetes

Follow your health care provider's guidelines on when to take your insulin for your
diabetes. The time span between your insulin shot and meals may vary depending on
the type of insulin you are taking.
In general, however, you should coordinate your insulin injection with when you want to
eat. From the chart above, the "onset" column provides useful information. Again, the
"onset" refers to when the insulin will begin to work in your body. You want the insulin to
begin working in your body at the same time your food is being absorbed. This timing
will help avoid low blood sugar levels.

Rapid acting insulins. If you take Novolog or another rapid-acting injectable

insulin, you should self inject about 15 minutes before mealtime.

Short-acting insulins. Such as regular insulin, should be taken 30 to 60 minutes

before a meal. Intermediate-acting insulins should be taken up to 1 hour prior to a meal.

Pre-mixed insulins. Depending on the product used, premixed solutions should
be taken 10 minutes or 30 to 45 minutes before mealtime.

Exceptions to Insulin Dosing and Timing

Injections of long-acting insulins are not "timed" to mealtime because of their long
duration of action. Levemir is taken once or twice a day irrespective of mealtime. Lantus
is only administered once a day (and should be administered at the same time each
day). Keep in mind that these long-acting insulins may need to be given with shorteracting insulin products --depending on your individual situation -- that will likely need to
be "timed" with mealtime. Some people with type 2 diabetes may be given long acting
insulin to be used in combination with an oral drug as well.
Finally, the rapid-acting products can also be taken immediately after a meal (rather
than 15 minutes before mealtime). Some products can also be administered at bedtime.
For more information about when to take insulin, read the "dosing and administration"
section of the insulin product package insert that came with your insulin product or call
your doctor.