Insulin Types

There are four main types of insulin. They differ in:

• how fast they work, called their onset
• when they work the best, called their peak
• how long they last, called their duration
  
  

By combining shorter- and longer-acting insulins, you can match your body's insulin needs. Everyone needs a continuous low level of insulin to carry out the body's normal activities, and everyone needs bursts of insulin after eating.

Type of Insulin	Generic Name	Brand Name	Work  Within	Work Best, or "Peak" at	Lasts
Rapid-Acting	insulin lispro (human)	Humalog	15 minutes	30 to 90 minutes	3 to 4 hours
	insulin aspart	NovoLog
	insulin glusiline	Apidra
Short-Acting	insulin injection	Humulin R	30 minutes	1 to 3 hours	6 to 8 hours
	(regular)	Novolin R
		Novolin R PenFill
		Novolin R Prefilled
		Velosulin Human BR
		Regular Iletin II
Intermediate-Acting	isophane insulin suspension (NPH)	Humulin N	about 2 hours	4 to 12 hours	24 hours
		Novolin N
		Novolin N PenFill
		Novolin N Prefilled
		NPH-N
Long-Acting	insulin glargine	Lantus	about 2 hours	no peak	up to 24 hours
	isulin detemir	Levemir
NPH/R Mixtures	insulin isophane suspension	Humulin 70/30	about 30 minutes	2 to 12 hours	18 to 24 hours
	regular insulin	Humulin 50/50
		Novolin 70/30
	insulin lispro protamine	Humalog	about 15 to 30 minutes	2 to 12 hours	18 to 24 hours
	insulin lispro	Mix 75/25

 

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Written by award-winning health writer Bobbie Hasselbring
Reviewed by Beth Seltzer, MD
Last updated June 2008