Return to the home page of DisforDiabetes

Advertisement

 







 




Advertisement




Diabetes Information

Types of Insulin

Insert C

Each type of insulin has an onset, a peak, and a duration time.

The onset is how soon the insulin starts to lower your blood glucose after you take it.

The peak is the time the insulin is working the hardest to lower your blood glucose.

The duration is how long the insulin lasts-the length of time it keeps lowering your blood glucose.

The times shown in the chart are estimates. Your onset, peak, and duration times may be different. You'll work with your health care team to come up with an insulin plan that works best for you.

Type of Insulin Brand Name Generic Name Onset Peak Duration
Very Rapid-acting Fiasp Insulin aspart plus niacinamide and L-arginine 2.5 minutes 63 minutes  
Rapid-acting NovoLog Insulin aspart 15 minutes 30 to 90 minutes 3 to 5 hours
Apidra Insulin glulisine 15 minutes 30 to 90 minutes 3 to 5 hours
Humalog Insulin lispro 15 minutes 30 to 90 minutes 3 to 5 hours
Admelog Insulin lispro 15 minutes 30 to 90 minutes 3 to 5 hours
Rapid-acting by inhalation Afrezza regular human insulin minutes about 60 minutes 160-180 minutes
Short-acting Humulin R Regular (R) 30 to 60 minutes 2 to 4 hours 5 to 8 hours
Novolin R
Intermediate-acting Humulin N NPH (N) 1 to 3 hours 8 hours 12 to 16 hours
Novolin N
Long-acting Levemir Insulin detemir      
Lantus Insulin glargine (U-100) 1 hour Peakless 20 to 26 hours
Basaglar Insulin glargine (U-100)
Toujeo Insulin glargine (U-300) 6 hours    
Tresiba Insulin degludec     42 hours
Pre-mixed NPH
(intermediate-acting)
and regular (short-acting)
Humulin 70/30
Novolin 70/30
70% NPH and 30% regular 30 to 60 minutes Varies 10 to 16 hours
Humulin 50/50 50% NPH and 50% regular 30 to 60 minutes Varies 10 to 16 hours
Pre-mixed insulin lispro protamine suspension (intermediate-acting) and insulin lispro (rapid-acting Humalog Mix 75/25 75% insulin lispro protamine and 25% insulin lispro 10 to 15 minutes Varies 10 to 16 hours
Humalog Mix 50/50 50% insulin lispro protamine and 50% insulin lispro 10 to 15 minutes Varies 10 to 16 hours
Pre-mixed insulin aspart protamine suspension (intermediate-acting) and insulin aspart (rapid-acting) NovoLog Mix 70/30 70% insulin aspart protamine
and 30% insulin aspart
5 to 15 minutes Varies 10 to 16 hours
Pre-mixed insulin aspart (rapid-acting) and insulin degludec (long-acting) Ryzodeg 70% insulin degludec
and 30% insulin aspart
    beyond 24 hours
        go to the top of this page


Return to general information or go to Insert D


        go to the top of this page
Advertisement

Modified December 2013 by adding Tresiba and Ryzodeg
Modified February 2015 by adding Afrezza
Modified March 2015 by adding Toujeo
Modified December 2016 by adding Basaglar
From the NDIC
NIH Publication No. 11-4222
October 2010
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/insert_C.aspx



 

Copyright ©

Go to the Copyright and Other Information page

This page was last updated at D-is-for-Diabetes on January 15, 2018

go to the top of this page go to home page read about us contact us read our disclaimer read our privacy policy search our website go to the site map find out what's new