All Type 1 diabetics -- and many Type 2 diabetics -- have to take some form of insulin every day of their lives. Here are some of the common forms of insulin that your doctor may prescribe for your needs.
| Drug |
Generic Name |
Method of Action |
| Humalog |
Lispro |
Very fast acting insulin. Injected within 15 minutes of eating, starts work in five to 15 minutes, peaks in 45 to 90 minutes, and finishes working in three to four hours. |
| Novolog |
Insulin aspart |
Very fast acting insulin. Injected within 15 minutes of eating, starts work in five to 15 minutes, peaks in 45 to 90 minutes, and finishes working in three to four hours. |
| Apidra |
Insulin glulisine |
Very fast acting insulin. Injected within 15 minutes of eating, starts work in five to 15 minutes, peaks in 45 to 90 minutes, and finishes working in three to four hours. |
| |
| Humulin R |
Regular Insulin |
Fast acting insulin. Injected within 30-60 minutes of eating, peaks in two to five hours, and finishes working in five to eight hours. |
| Novolin R |
| Verosulin Human |
| Iletin II Regular |
Regular Insulin |
Fast acting insulin. Injected within 30-120 minutes of eating, peaks in three to four hours, finishes working in four to six hours. |
| |
| Iletin II NPH |
Intermediate acting insulin. |
Starts work in four to six hours, peaks in eight to 14 hours, and finishes working in 16 to 20 hours. |
| Iletin II Lente |
| Humulin L |
Intermediate acting insulin. |
Starts work in one to two-and-a-half hours, peaks in three to 10 hours, and finishes working in 18 to 24 hours. |
| Humulin N |
| Novolin L L |
| Novolin N N |
| |
| Humulin U |
Long acting insulin |
Starts work in four to six hours, peaks in 18 to 28 hours, and finishes working in 28 hours. |
| Ultralente |
Long acting insulin |
Starts work in one to three hours, peaks in 10 to 20 hours, and finishes working in 20 to 36 hours. |
| Lantus |
Insulin Glargine |
Ultra-long acting insulin. Starts work in one hour, and is sustain at a relatively constant rate for 24 hours, without any peaks. |
| |
Humulin |
Premixed insulin combinations |
Premixed combinations of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulins. |
70/30, 50/5030 |
| Humalog 75/25 |
Premixed insulin combinations |
Premixed combinations of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulins. |
| Novolin 70/30 |
Premixed insulin combinations |
Premixed combinations of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulins. |
| Novolog 70/30 |
Premixed insulin combinations |
Premixed combinations of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulins. |
| |
| Exubera |
Inhalable insulin powder |
Very fast acting insulin. Inhaled no more than 10 minutes before eating. |
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