Insulin
Types
Each Insulin
type works at a different
pace and most people have to use more than one kind to
mimic their
actual bodies system.
Insulin time
factors
Before get
into the details on insulin types, it is better to know
about 3 time factors about insulin they are;
- Onset
time - once injected time needed for the insulin to start
lowering blood glucose.
- Peak
time - the period at which insulin works to its best (peak
or maximum power) to lower the blood glucose.
- Duration
time - length of time the insulin works to keeps lowering
blood glucose.
Each type of
insulin works at a different onset, peak and duration time
as per specific requirement.
Insulin types
Based on the
above said insulin time factors, insulin are classified in
to 3 main categorical types, they are
- Rapid-acting insulin,
- Short-acting insulin,
- Intermediate-acting insulin,
- Long-acting insulin,
- Very long-acting insulin.
Rapid-acting insulin
This
is the fastest insulin of all. Once injected, it starts to work within
15 minutes (onset time). It works to its maximum (peaks time) at about
an hour after injection. It's usually used up in four or five hours
(duration time). This type of insulin is designed to be injected right
before meals. By the time the meal is digested and glucose is released
into the bloodstream, rapid-acting insulin is working to its peak and
makes cells to consume glucose. Rapid-acting insulin is looks clear in
appearance.
Short-acting insulin
Otherwise
called as
"regular" insulin, is also designed to be used around mealtime. It
takes longer to work (onset time) than rapid-acting insulin. So take
short-acting insulin about 30 to 45 minutes before having meals and it
works to its maximum (peak time) at about two or three hours. It can
keep working for as long as six hours (duration time). Short-acting
insulin is looks clear in appearance.
Intermediate-acting insulin
This
insulin is designed is such a way to makes the body absorb the insulin
more slowly. It takes longer to start to work, and it stays in the body
for a longer time. This type has approximate onset time of 2 to 4
hours, peak time of 4 to 12 hours and duration time of 12 to 18 hours.
Intermediate-acting insulin works all day if taken in the morning. This
type of insulin looks cloudy and has to be mixed by shaking before
injected.
Long-acting insulin
It starts to
work in six to 10
hours (onset time) and can stay in the body for 20 hours or more
(duration time). It dose not have any peak time at all. Long-acting
insulin is usually taken in the morning or before bed, like
intermediate-acting insulin. Long-acting insulin is looks
clear in
appearance.
Very long acting insulin
There is
also glargine
insulin, which is very long-acting insulin. It starts to lower blood
glucose levels about 1 hour after injection, and keeps working for 24
hours.
|