Duration of Effect of Various Insulins When Given by Subcutaneous Injection*
| Type of Insulin | Generic (Trade Names) | Onset (hr) | Maximum (hr) | Duration (hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very rapid | Aspart (NovoLog) | 0.2–0.5 | 1–3 | 3–5 |
| Very rapid | Lispro (Humalog) | 0.2–0.5 | 0.5–2.5 | 3–5 |
| Very rapid | Glulisine (Apidra) | 0.2–0.5 | 1.6–2.8 | 3–4 |
| Rapid | Regular | 0.5–1.0 | 2.5–5 | 4–6 |
| Intermediate-acting | NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N) | 2–4 | 4–12 | 10–18 |
| Fixed-dose combination insulins † | 70/30, 50/50, etc. | Variable, depending on mixture used | ||
| Very long-acting | Glargine (Lantus) | 2–4 | none | 11–32 |
| Very long-acting | Determir (Levemir) | 3–4 | 3–9 | 6–23 Dose dependent |
| U 500 regular very concentrated (5 X U100) | 0.5–1.0 | 2.5–5 | up to 24 hr | |
* These times are estimates and may vary in individual patients.
† Contain NPH plus a rapid-acting insulin (Aspart, Lispro, or Regular); NovoLog 70/30 contains 70% NPH, 30% NovoLog