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Different Types of Insulin

Insulin is crucial for diabetics to keep their blood sugar levels in the correct range. Doctors will usually prescribe a combination of insulin types, depending on the patient and his or her needs.

  1. Rapid-acting Insulin

    • Rapid-acting insulin can be injected right before a meal. It starts to work in about 15 minutes and peaks just as the meal is being digested, about an hour later. Its effects wear off after about five hours.

    Short-acting Insulin

    • Short-acting insulin, also called regular insulin, should be taken about a half-hour before eating. It works hardest two to three hours after injection, but its effects can last up to six hours.

    Intermediate-acting Insulin

    • Within four hours of injection, intermediate-acting insulin starts its work. Its effects peak by the 12th hour, but it stays in the body up to 18 hours. This type of insulin is often injected in the morning or at night before sleep.

    Long-Acting Insulin

    • Once long-acting insulin starts to work, from one to 10 hours after injection, it can continue steadily for up to 24 hours.

    Types of Delivery

    • Most diabetics use syringes or an insulin pump to administer their medication. Pumps contain two or three days' worth of short-acting insulin and deliver small doses throughout the day, through a small, soft tube placed under the skin. Bursts of insulin are programmed manually before meals.

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