Taking insulin: Time-action of different insulins

Rapid-acting

• Humalog® (Lispro)
• NovoLog® (Aspart)
• Apidra® (Glulisine)

• 5 to 15 minutes

• 1 to 2 hours

• 2 to 4 hours

Short-acting

• Regular (R)

• 30 to 45 minutes

• 3 hours

• 4 to 8 hours

Intermediate-acting

• NPH (N)

• 2 to 4 hours

• 4 to 8 hours

• 10 to 16 hours

Pre-mix*

• Humalog® Mix 75/25
• Humalog® Mix 50/50
• NovoLog® Mix 70/30
• Humulin® 70/30, Novolin 70/30
• Humulin® 50/50

• 5 to 15 minutes









• 30 to 45 minutes

• 1 to 2 hours/some increase at 4 to 8 hours







• 2 to 3 hours/4 to 8 hours

• 10 to 16 hours









• 10 to 16 hours

Basal**

• Lantus® (glargine)
• Levemir® (detemir)

• 2 hours

• no peak

• 24 hours

*The long-acting insulin may work the best between 4 and 8 hours.

**Lantus and Levemir cannot be mixed with any other insulin.

Exenatide Injection:

*Byetta®glargine

Actions:

• regulates the amount of insulin released after eating
• decreased the release of glucose by the liver
• reduces appetite (can increase weight loss)
• slows the rate of food that is absorbed

• within 60 minutes

• 2 hours

• 6 to 10 hours

Premlintide acetate injection:

**Symlin®pramlintide

Actions:

• regulates glucose levels after eating
• decreases the release of glucose by the liver
• reduces appetite (can increase weight loss)
• slows the rate of food that is absorbed

• 15 minutes

• 48 minutes

• 3 hours

*Used the sulfonylureas, metformin or TZD.

**Used with insulin.