Insulin types
This is a brief guide to the types of insulin and how long each type of insulin lasts over a 24-hour period.
Please note, insulins in each group can vary in their effect and duration of action. Visit the manufactures website for specific information about your insulin.
Rapid-acting
Short-acting
Intermediate-acting
Long-acting
Rapid-acting insulin
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The fastest-acting insulin, usually taken 10-15 minutes before meals or as a correction dose. Starts working in 10-15 minutes and lasts 2–5 hours. Examples include insulin aspart (Novorapid®), insulin lispro (Humalog®), insulin glulisine (Apidra®), insulin aspart (Trurapi®. FiAsp®). |
Short-acting insulin
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Short-acting insulin is usually taken about 30 minutes before meals. Starts working in 30 minutes to 1 hour and lasts up to 8 hours. Examples include human soluble insulin (Actrapid®, Humulin® S and Insuman Rapid®). |
Intermediate-acting insulin
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Usually taken once or twice a day. Starts working within 2 hours and lasts 8–14 hours. Examples include isophane insulin (Insuman® Basal, Insulatard® and Humulin® I) |
Long-acting insulin
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Usually taken once or twice a day. Starts working within 2 hours and lasts up to 18–24 hours. Examples include insulin detemir (Levemir®), insulin glargine (Abasaglar®, Semglee®, Lantus®, Toujeo®) and insulin degludec (Tresiba®). |
Mixed insulin
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These insulins are a mixture of shorter-acting and longer-acting insulins and come in different preparations. Usually taken twice or three times daily, between 15–30 minutes before food. Starts working within 30 minutes (depending on short-acting insulin). Examples include biphasic insulin aspart (Novomix® 30), biphasic insulin lispro (Humalog® Mix 25, Humalog® Mix 50), soluble and isophane insulin (Humulin® M3, Insuman® Comb 15, Insuman® Comb 25, Insuman® Comb 50). |
