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Types of Insulin for Diabetes
Insulin injections are more often associated with Type 1 Diabetes. All people with Type 1 Diabetes will require insulin injections for life, however some people with Type 2 Diabetes may progress to insulin dependence.
There are many types of insulin available. The type of insulin you take will depend on many factors, including your individual reaction to insulin, lifestyle, exercise regimen and eating patterns. Your insulin regimen will aim to keep your BGL within the healthy range of 3.5-7.8mmol/L. This will require self blood glucose monitoring on a regular basis, and keeping records of your BGL to see if any alterations are needed in the future.
There are five classes of insulins, as seen below.
Fast Acting Insulin eg Novorapid, Humalog, Apidra
Onset of action: 10-15 minutes
Peak of action: 1-2 hours
Duration of action: 4-5 hours
Fast acting insulin is absorbed very quickly into the blood stream and should be injected right before a meal. This is convenient because you do not have to wait the usual 30 minutes before you can eat, as with regular insulin.
Short Acting Insulin eg Actrapid, Humilin R
Onset of action: 30 minutes
Peak of action: 2.5-5 hours
Duration of action: 8 hours
This insulin begins to work 30mins after injection, so must be injected 30mins before a meal. This can be difficult when eating out, or if you are unsure how much the person on insulin is going to eat at each meal.
Intermediate Acting Insulin eg Protaphane, Humilin NPH
Onset of action: 3 hours
Peak of action: 4-8 hours
Duration of action: 16-24 hours
Due to its longer acting time, intermediate insulin is often used as the ‘basal’ insulin replacement in intensive insulin therapy for type 1diabetes, with fast acting insulin boluses given at meal times. It is also used for insulin acquiring type 2 diabetics, with or without added fast acting insulin at meals.
Long Acting Insulin eg Glargine (Lantus), Detemir (Levemir)
Onset of action: 2 hours
Peak of action: Peakless
Duration of action: 16-24 hours
Unlike intermediate insulin, long acting insulin has no peak in its action, and is thus less likely to cause hypoglycemia.
Pre-mixed Insulin
eg Humalog Mix 25 or 50, Novo Mix 30, Mixtard 30/70 or 50/50, Humalin 30/70
Pre mixed insulins are a combination of fast acting and intermediate acting insulins. They are combined in a set ratio so they do not need to be mixed each time before injection. They are useful for people who may have difficulty mixing their own injections, such as the elderly or younger children.
Added to site on : Monday, 22 March 2010