Insulin 101

Insulin 101

Not all insulin behaves the same way in the body. To manage Type 1 Diabetes successfully, you need to understand how different formulas work together to mimic a healthy pancreas.

There is: 

Rapid, Short, Intermediate, Long, Ultra Long, and Premixed

There are also different concentrations

Each type has different onset time frames, peak times, and durations.

• Rapid-acting

Onset is 15 minutes

Peak time is 1 hour

Duration is 2 to 4 hours

• Short-acting

Onset is 30 minutes

Peak time is 2 to 3 hours

Duration is 3 to 6 hours

• Intermediate-acting

Onset is 2 to 4 hours

Peak time is 4 to 13 hours

Duration is 12 to 18 hours

• Long-acting

Onset is 2 hours

Does not peak

Duration is up to 24 hours

• Ultra Long-acting

Onset is 6 hours

Does not peak

Duration is 36 hours or longer

• Premixed

Onset is 5 to 60 minutes

Peaks vary

Duration is 10 to 16 hours

The Insulin Decoder

Here is an awesome insulin chart to help you understand your insulin!