Insert C
Types of Insulin
Each type of insulin has an onset, a peak, and a duration time.
The onset is how soon the insulin starts to lower your blood glucose after you take it.
The peak is the time the insulin is working the hardest to lower your blood glucose.
The duration is how long the insulin lasts—the length of time it keeps lowering your blood glucose.
The times shown in the chart are estimates. Your onset, peak, and duration times may be different. You’ll work with your health care team to come up with an insulin plan that works best for you.
| Type of Insulin |
Brand Name |
Generic Name |
Onset |
Peak |
Duration |
| Rapid-acting |
__ NovoLog |
__ Insulin aspart |
15 minutes |
30 to 90 minutes |
3 to 5 hours |
| __ Apidra |
__ Insulin glulisine |
15 minutes |
30 to 90 minutes |
3 to 5 hours |
| __ Humalog |
__ Insulin lispro |
15 minutes |
30 to 90 minutes |
3 to 5 hours |
| Short-acting |
__ Humulin R |
__ Regular (R) |
30 to 60 minutes |
2 to 4 hours |
5 to 8 hours |
| __ Novolin R |
| Intermediate-acting |
__ Humulin N |
__ NPH (N) |
1 to 3 hours |
8 hours |
12 to 16 hours |
| __ Novolin N |
| Long-acting |
__ Levemir |
__ Insulin detemir |
1 hour |
Peakless |
20 to 26 hours |
| __ Lantus |
__ Insulin glargine |
Pre-mixed NPH
(intermediate-acting)
and regular (short-acting) |
__ Humulin 70/30
__ Novolin 70/30 |
__ 70% NPH and 30% regular |
30 to 60 minutes |
Varies |
10 to 16 hours |
| __ Humulin 50/50 |
__ 50% NPH and 50% regular |
30 to 60 minutes |
Varies |
10 to 16 hours |
| Pre-mixed insulin lispro protamine suspension (intermediate-acting) and insulin lispro (rapid-acting |
__ Humalog Mix 75/25 |
__ 75% insulin lispro protamine and 25% insulin lispro |
10 to 15 minutes |
Varies |
10 to 16 hours |
| __ Humalog Mix 50/50 |
__ 50% insulin lispro protamine and 50% insulin lispro |
10 to 15 minutes |
Varies |
10 to 16 hours |
| Pre-mixed insulin aspart protamine suspension (intermediate-acting) and insulin aspart (rapid-acting) |
__ NovoLog Mix 70/30 |
__ 70% insulin aspart protamine
and 30% insulin aspart |
5 to 15 minutes |
Varies |
10 to 16 hours |
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