Final answer:
Humulin R insulin is a short-acting insulin with effects typically lasting 5 to 8 hours after injection, with blood glucose levels usually returning to baseline within about 2 to 2½ hours in insulin responsive individuals. The degradation of Humulin R occurs mostly in the liver, with insulin molecules being degraded approximately 71 minutes after release into the bloodstream.
Step-by-step explanation:
Duration of Action for Humulin R Insulin
Humulin R, or regular human insulin, typically starts to lower blood glucose within 30 minutes after injection, making it a short-acting insulin.
The effects usually last for about 5 to 8 hours. However, the duration of action can vary among individuals depending on various factors including the dose administered, injection site, blood flow, temperature, and level of physical activity.
Insulin activity is important as it assists in the utilization of glucose by cells. Following the graph-A reference, in a person with insulin responsive diabetes mellitus (IDDM), blood glucose levels fall within one hour post-insulin injection due to cellular uptake of glucose facilitated by the insulin, and then typically return to baseline levels in about 2 to 2½ hours.
It is critical to understand that Humulin R degradation occurs primarily in the liver, and the estimated duration until a molecule is degraded is approximately 71 minutes post-release into the circulation.
This degradation process involves endocytosis of the insulin-receptor complex and subsequent action by insulin degrading enzyme. Because Humulin R is a form of synthesized human insulin, its structure closely resembles endogenous human insulin, including its two peptide chains known as the A and B chains.