Types of Insulin
Insulin
is a type of hormone. It helps the body use blood sugar (glucose) for fuel. With diabetes,
your body may not make enough insulin. Then you may need insulin injections. If you
have
type 2 diabetes, your cells may have trouble using insulin. There are many types of
insulin
that can be prescribed for your treatment. Your healthcare provider will work with
you to
find the types that are best for you. Most insulin is made in a lab. It’s called human
insulin because it starts out just like the insulin that’s made in the body. Some
types of
insulin work fast but don't last as long while other types work slowly and last longer.
The
different types of insulin work in the following ways:
1.
Rapid-acting insulin:
-
Begins working about
15 minutes after taken
-
Peaks about
1 to 2 hours after taken
-
Keeps working for
2 to 4 hours
Name of
insulin:
2.
Short-acting or regular insulin:
-
Begins working about
30 minutes after taken
-
Peaks within
2 to 3 hours after taken
-
Keeps working for
3 to 6 hours
Name of
insulin:
3.
Intermediate-acting insulin:
-
Begins working about
2 to 4 hours after taken
-
Peaks
4 to 12 hours after taken
-
Keeps working for
12 to 18 hours
Name of
insulin:
4.
Long-acting insulin:
Name of
insulin:
5. Ultra
long-acting insulin:
Name of insulin: _______________________
6.
Premixed combinations of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulin:
-
Begins working about
30 to 60
minutes after taken
-
Strongest action is variable
-
Keeps working for
10 to 16
hours
Name of
insulin:
7.
Premixed combinations of intermediate-acting and rapid-acting insulin:
-
Begins working about
5 to 15
minutes after taken
-
Strongest action is variable
-
Keeps working for
10 to 16
hours
Name of
insulin: ____________________________
8.
Inhaled insulin:*
-
Begins working about
12 to 15
minutes after taken
-
Strongest action is about
30
minutes after being inhaled
-
Keeps working for
180 minutes
*Inhaled insulin must be used with injectable long-acting insulin in:
- People with type 1 diabetes
- People with type 2 diabetes who use long-acting insulin
Name of
insulin: _____________________________