Question

Which insulins are rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting and long acting?

Answer 1

Rapid-acting insulins start working within 15 minutes and are most effective in reducing blood glucose levels 1-2 hours after injection. Short-acting insulins start working within 30 minutes and reach their peak effectiveness in 2-3 hours. Intermediate-acting insulins start working within 1-2 hours and reach their peak effectiveness in 4-8 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

Insulins can be classified based on their duration of action:

1. Rapid-acting insulin: These insulins start working within 15 minutes after injection and are most effective in reducing blood glucose levels 1-2 hours after injection. Examples include insulin lispro, insulin aspart, and insulin glulisine.
2. Short-acting insulin: These insulins start working within 30 minutes after injection and reach their peak effectiveness in 2-3 hours. They can last for about 3-6 hours. Regular insulin is an example of short-acting insulin.
3. Intermediate-acting insulin: These insulins start working within 1-2 hours after injection and reach their peak effectiveness in 4-8 hours. They can last for about 12-16 hours. Examples include NPH insulin and insulin detemir.
4. Long-acting insulin: These insulins start working within 1-2 hours after injection, but their effects are flat and stable over a longer period of time. They do not have a pronounced peak effectiveness. Examples include insulin glargine and insulin degludec.