Insulin Types
Updated: Oct 19, 2021
Author: Abimbola Farinde, PharmD, PhD;
Types of Insulin
Insulin types are discussed in the table below.[1]
Table 1. Insulin Types (Open Table in a new window)
Insulin Type |
Onset |
Peak |
Duration |
Ultra short acting: insulin lispro, insulin aspart, insulin glulisine[2] Usually taken before a meal to cover the blood glucose elevation from eating Used with longer-acting insulin |
12-30 min |
0.5-3 hr |
3-5 hr |
Short acting: regular insulin Usually taken about 30 minutes before a meal to cover blood glucose elevation from eating Used with longer-acting insulin |
30 min |
2.5-5 hr |
4-24 hr |
Intermediate acting: insulin NPH[3] Covers the blood glucose elevations when rapid-acting insulins stop working Often combined with rapid- or short-acting insulin and usually taken twice a day |
1-2 hr |
4-12 hr |
14-24 hr |
Long acting: insulin glargine[4] , ultralente insulin, insulin detemir Often combined, when needed, with rapid- or short-acting insulin Lowers blood glucose levels when rapid-acting insulins stop working Taken once or twice a day |
3-4 hr |
No defined peak |
≥24 hr |
