Types of Insulin

Most insulin is made in a laboratory and is called human insulin because it’s just like the insulin that’s made in the body. Some kinds of insulin work fast and other kinds work slowly and last longer.

How often you take your insulin depends on the kind of insulin your doctor recommends.

1. Rapid-acting Insulin

• Begins working about 5 minutes after taken.

• Strongest peak action is about 60 minutes after taken.

• Continues working for 2-4 hours.

Name of Insulin:

2. Short-acting Insulin

• Begins working about 30 minutes after taken.

• Strongest peak action is about 2-3 hours after taken.

• Continues working for 3-6 hours.

Name of Insulin:

3. Intermediate-acting Insulin

• Begins working about 2-4 hours after taken.

• Strongest action is about 4-12 hours after taken.

• Continues working for 12-18 hours.

Name of Insulin:

4. Long-acting Insulin

• Begins working about 6-10 hours after taken.

• Minimal peak action.

• Continues working for 20-24 hours

• Another type of long-acting insulin works continuously for 24 hours with very little peak action.

Name of Insulin:

5. Premixed Combinations of Intermediate-acting and Short-acting Insulins

• Begins working about           hours after taken.

• Strongest action is about           hours after taken.

• Continues working for           hours.

Name of Insulin: