U.S. Food
and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer magazine
January-February 2002
Table
of Contents
Since 1982, most of the newly approved insulin preparations have been produced by inserting portions of DNA ("recombinant DNA") into special lab-cultivated bacteria or yeast. This process allows the bacteria or yeast cells to produce complete human insulin. Recombinant human insulin has, for the most part, replaced animal-derived insulin, such as pork and beef insulin. More recently, insulin products called "insulin analogs" have been produced so that the structure differs slightly from human insulin (by one or two amino acids) to change onset and peak of action. The following table lists some of the more common insulin preparations available today. Onset, peak, and duration of action are approximate for each insulin product, as there may be variability depending on each individual, the injection site, and the individual's exercise program.
| Type of Insulin | Examples | Onset of Action | Peak of Action | Duration of Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid-acting | Humalog (lispro) Eli Lilly |
15 minutes | 30-90 minutes | 3-5 hours |
| NovoLog
(aspart) Novo Nordisk |
15 minutes | 40-50 minutes | 3-5 hours | |
| Short-acting (Regular) |
Humulin R Novolin R |
30-60 minutes | 50-120 minutes | 5-8 hours |
| Intermediate-acting (NPH) |
Humulin N Novolin N |
1-3 hours | 8 hours | 20 hours |
|
Humulin L Novolin L |
1-2.5 hours | 7-15 hours | 18-24 hours | |
| Intermediate- and short-acting mixtures |
Humulin 50/50 Novolin 70/30 |
The onset, peak, and duration of action of these mixtures would reflect a composite of the intermediate and short- or rapid-acting components, with one peak of action. | ||
| Long-acting | Ultralente Eli Lilly |
4-8 hours | 8-12 hours | 36 hours |
| Lantus (glargine) Aventis |
1 hour | none | 24 hours | |
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2001-DEC-26.