Type of Insulin & Brand Names Onset Peak Duration Role in Blood Sugar Management
Rapid-Acting
Humalog or lispro 15-30 min. 30-90 min 3-5 hours Rapid-acting insulin covers insulin needs for meals eaten at the same time as the injection. This type of insulin is often used with longer-acting insulin.
Novolog or aspart 10-20 min. 40-50 min. 3-5 hours
Apidra or glulisine 20-30 min. 30-90 min. 1-2½ hours
Short-Acting
Regular (R) humulin or novolin 30 min. -1 hour 2-5 hours 5-8 hours Short-acting insulin covers insulin needs for meals eaten within 30-60 minutes
Velosulin (for use in the insulin pump) 30 min.-1 hour 2-3 hours 2-3 hours
Intermediate-Acting
NPH (N) 1-2 hours 4-12 hours 18-24 hours Intermediate-acting insulin covers insulin needs for about half the day or overnight. This type of insulin is often combined with rapid- or short-acting insulin.
Long-Acting
Long-acting insulin covers insulin needs for about one full day. This type of insulin is often combined, when needed, with rapid- or short-acting insulin.
Lantus (insulin glargine) 1-1½ hour No peak time; insulin is delivered at a steady level 20-24 hours
Levemir (insulin detemir) 1-2 hours 6-8 hours Up to 24 hours
Pre-Mixed*
Humulin 70/30 30 min. 2-4 hours 14-24 hours These products are generally taken two or three times a day before mealtime.
Novolin 70/30 30 min. 2-12 hours Up to 24 hours
Novolog 70/30 10-20 min. 1-4 hours Up to 24 hours
Humulin 50/50 30 min. 2-5 hours 18-24 hours
Humalog mix 75/25 15 min. 30 min.-2½ hours 16-20 hours
*Premixed insulins are a combination of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulin in one bottle or insulin pen (the numbers following the brand name indicate the percentage of each type of insulin).
Rapid-Acting
Humalog or lispro 15-30 min. 30-90 min 3-5 hours Rapid-acting insulin covers insulin needs for meals eaten at the same time as the injection. This type of insulin is often used with longer-acting insulin.
Novolog or aspart 10-20 min. 40-50 min. 3-5 hours
Apidra or glulisine 20-30 min. 30-90 min. 1-2½ hours
Short-Acting
Regular (R) humulin or novolin 30 min. -1 hour 2-5 hours 5-8 hours Short-acting insulin covers insulin needs for meals eaten within 30-60 minutes
Velosulin (for use in the insulin pump) 30 min.-1 hour 2-3 hours 2-3 hours
Intermediate-Acting
NPH (N) 1-2 hours 4-12 hours 18-24 hours Intermediate-acting insulin covers insulin needs for about half the day or overnight. This type of insulin is often combined with rapid- or short-acting insulin.
Long-Acting
Long-acting insulin covers insulin needs for about one full day. This type of insulin is often combined, when needed, with rapid- or short-acting insulin.
Lantus (insulin glargine) 1-1½ hour No peak time; insulin is delivered at a steady level 20-24 hours
Levemir (insulin detemir) 1-2 hours 6-8 hours Up to 24 hours
Pre-Mixed*
Humulin 70/30 30 min. 2-4 hours 14-24 hours These products are generally taken two or three times a day before mealtime.
Novolin 70/30 30 min. 2-12 hours Up to 24 hours
Novolog 70/30 10-20 min. 1-4 hours Up to 24 hours
Humulin 50/50 30 min. 2-5 hours 18-24 hours
Humalog mix 75/25 15 min. 30 min.-2½ hours 16-20 hours
*Premixed insulins are a combination of specific proportions of intermediate-acting and short-acting insulin in one bottle or insulin pen (the numbers following the brand name indicate the percentage of each type of insulin).
