Injectable Insulin Medications
Injectable Insulin Medications
- Medication name: Insulin glulisine (Apidra®)
- Onset*: 5-15 minutes
- Peak*: 1-3 hours
- Duration*: 3-5 hours
- Medication name: Insulin aspart (Novolog®)
- Onset: 10-15 minutes
- Peak: 1-3 hours
- Duration: 3-5 hours
- Medication name: Insulin lispro U-100/U-200 (Humalog®)
- Onset: 10-15 minutes
- Peak: 1-3 hours
- Duration: 3-5 hours
- Medication name: Regular insulin (Novolin R, Humulin R)
- Onset: 30-60 minutes
- Peak: 2-4 hours
- Duration: 5-8 hours
- Medication name: NPH insulin (Novolin N, Humulin N)
- Onset: 1-2 hours
- Peak: 4-12 hours
- Duration: 14-24 hours
- Medication name: Insulin detemir (Levemir®)
- Onset: 1 hour
- Peak: 3-14 hours
- Duration: Up to 24 hours
- Medication name: Insulin U-100 (Lantus®, Basaglar®)
- Onset: 3-4 hours
- Peak: No peak
- Duration: Up to 24 hours
- Medication name: Insulin glargine U-300 (Toujeo®)
- Onset: 6 hours
- Peak: No peak
- Duration: Up to 36 hours
- Medication name: Insulin degludec U-100/U-200 (Tresiba®)
- Onset: 1 hour
- Peak: No peak
- Duration: Up to 42 hours
- Medication name: Pre-mixed insulin
- 70/30 (70% N and 30% R)
- Onset: 0.5-1 hour
- Peak: 2-12 hours
- Duration: 10-16 hours
- 50/50 (50% N and 50% R)
- Onset: 0.5-1 hour
- Peak: 2-12 hours
- Duration: 10-16 hours
- 70/30 (70% N and 30% R)
- Medication name: Pre-mixed insulin
- Humalog® mix 75/25 (75% NPL and 25% insulin lispro)
- Onset: 5-20 minutes
- Peak: 1-2 hours
- Duration: 10-16 hours
- Humalog® mix 50/50 (50% insulin lispro protamine and 50% insulin lispro)
- Onset: 5-20 minutes
- Peak: 1-2 hours
- Duration: 10-16 hours
- NovoLog® mix 70/30 (70% insulin aspart protamine and 30% insulin aspart)
- Onset: 5-20 minutes
- Peak: 1-2 hours
- Duration: 10-16 hours
- Humalog® mix 75/25 (75% NPL and 25% insulin lispro)
* Onset how long it takes before the insulins begin to work; peak the time during which the insulins are at their maximum effectiveness in lowering blood glucose; duration is how long the insulins continue to work before their effects wear off
How it works:
- Insulin helps control blood sugar levels in people whose bodies do not produce enough insulin.
- Insulin directly lowers glucose levels by increasing uptake into muscle and fatty tissue, and reducing release of glucose from the liver.
- Insulin can be injected in the abdomen, legs, back of arms, or buttocks.
Side effects:
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Local allergic reaction (rare)
Comments/special instructions:
- Insulin may lead to weight gain.
- Humalog®, Novolog®, and Apidra® may be taken up to 15 minutes before eating and, if using vials, may be mixed with NPH.
- Regular insulin is taken 30 minutes before eating and also may be mixed with NPH.
Insulins made by different manufacturers should not be mixed, e.g., Humulin-R® (Eli Lilly) should not be mixed with Novolin-N® (Novo-Nordisk). Manufacturers use different processes to produce their insulins, and different preservatives. Their interactions have not been studied.
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