Types of Insulin
Overview
Insulin is used to treat people who have diabetes. Each type of insulin acts over a specific amount of time. The amount of time can be affected by exercise, diet, illness, some medicines, stress, the dose, how you take it, or where you inject it.
Insulin is made by different companies. It also comes in different strengths. Make sure you use the same type of insulin consistently so you take the right amount.
Types of insulin| Type | Examples | Appearance | When it starts to work (onset) | How long it lasts (duration) |
|---|
| Rapid-acting insulins (bolus insulin) are usually taken at the start of a meal. | Insulin aspart (NovoRapid) Insulin glulisine (Apidra) Insulin lispro (Humalog) | Clear | 4–20 minutes | 3–5 hours |
| Short-acting insulins (bolus insulin) are usually taken a short time before a meal. | Insulin regular (Entuzity, Humulin-R, Novolin ge Toronto) | Clear | 15–30 minutes | 6.5–24 hours |
| Intermediate-acting insulins (basal insulin) are usually taken in the morning and at bedtime. | Insulin NPH (Humulin-N and Novolin ge NPH) | Cloudy | 1-3 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Long-acting insulins (basal insulin) are usually taken once daily or in the morning and at bedtime. | Insulin detemir (Levemir) Insulin glargine (Lantus) | Clear | 90 minutes | 16–24 hours |
| Ultra long-acting insulins (basal insulin) are usually taken once dialy. | Degludec (Tresiba) Insuline glargine (Toujeo) | Clear | 90 minutes | 30–42 hours |
Mixtures of insulin can sometimes be combined in the same syringe, for example, intermediate-acting and rapid- or short-acting insulin. Not all insulins can be mixed together.
For convenience, there are premixed rapid- and intermediate-acting insulin. The insulin will start to work as quickly as the fastest-acting insulin in the combination. It will peak when each type of insulin typically peaks, and it will last as long as the longest-acting insulin. Examples include:
- 30% regular and 70% NPH (Humulin 30/70, Novolin ge 30/70).
- 50% lispro and 50% lispro protamine (Humalog Mix 50).
- 25% lispro and 75% lispro protamine (Humalog Mix 25).
- 30% aspart and 70% aspart protamine (NovoMix 30).
References
Citations
- Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee, et al. (2018). Types of insulin. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 42(Suppl 1): S314. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.12.006. Accessed November 16, 2018.
Credits
Adaptation Date: 8/17/2023
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Date: 8/17/2023
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee, et al. (2018). Types of insulin. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 42(Suppl 1): S314. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.12.006. Accessed November 16, 2018.
