For diabetics, insulin is an essential hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. Insulin treatment is required when the body is unable to generate enough insulin, which is the situation with Type 1 diabetes and sometimes Type 2 diabetes. Insulin comes in a variety of forms, each having a unique start time, peak impact, and duration of action. Selecting the appropriate kind of insulin is crucial for managing diabetes effectively.
We will explain the many forms of insulin, their applications, and how to choose the one that would be best for you in this article.
1. An Overview of Insulin: Fundamentals
Three main criteria are usually used to classify insulin:
Onset: The rate at which insulin begins to function.
Peak: The period of time when insulin works at its best.
Duration: The amount of time that insulin keeps working.
The Five Primary Insulin Types
1. Insulin that Acts Quickly
- Start time: ten to fifteen minutes
- Peak: one to two hours
- Time frame: three to five hours
Examples include glulisine (Apidra), Aspart (NovoLog), and Lispro (Humalog).
Before meals, rapid-acting insulin is used to reduce the blood sugar surge that follows a meal. Insulin pumps also utilize it to administer insulin continuously. This insulin is best taken during mealtimes since it acts rapidly but doesn’t last long.
2. Regular Insulin, or Short-Acting Insulin
- Start time: 30 minutes
- Peak: two to three hours
- Time frame: 5–8 hours
- For instance: Normal insulin (Novolin R, Humulin R)
Compared to rapid-acting insulin, short-acting insulin has a longer half-life but takes longer to start operating. It works well to prevent blood sugar increases and is usually taken 30 to 60 minutes before meals.
3. Insulin with an intermediate half-life
- Start time: one to two hours
- Peak: four to twelve hours
- Time frame: 12–18 hours
NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N) is one example.
For about half a day or overnight, intermediate-acting insulin meets insulin requirements. It is often used in conjunction with short-acting or rapid-acting insulin to provide more thorough control. Usually, the maximum impact happens a few hours after the injection.
4. Onset of Long-Acting Insulin: 1-2 hours
- Peak: Very little or not at all
- Time frame: up to 24 hours
- For instance, Degludec (Tresiba), Detemir (Levemir), and Glargine (Lantus)
Long-acting insulin functions consistently throughout the day without noticeable peaks, simulating the body’s natural insulin synthesis. Usually given once or twice daily, it supplies a steady supply of insulin to regulate blood sugar throughout the night and in between meals.
5. Insulin with Ultra-Long-Acting
- Start time: 6 hours
- Peak: Not a peak
- Time frame: more than 36 hours
Insulin degludec, also known as Tresiba, is an example of ultra-long-acting insulin that is best suited for those who want reliable blood sugar management with fewer injections. It lowers the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, by delivering a prolonged, stable amount of insulin.
2. Insulin Combination
Combination insulins are administered in certain situations. These insulin formulations are pre-mixed and include both intermediate-acting and rapid-acting or short-acting insulin. Among the examples are:
Humulin 70/30 (30% Regular, 70% NPH)
30% insulin aspart and 70% insulin aspart protamine make up NovoLog Mix 70/30.
For some people, combination insulins are more convenient since they give both rapid and long-lasting insulin effects in a single injection.
3. How to Pick the Best Insulin Type for You:
Things to Take Into Account
Diabetes type: While type 2 diabetes may be treated with long-acting insulin or even oral medicines in its early stages, type 1 diabetes usually needs both rapid-acting and long-acting insulin.
Lifestyle: Choosing the appropriate insulin is greatly influenced by your daily schedule, eating habits, and degree of exercise. While long-acting insulin may promote a more sedentary lifestyle, rapid-acting insulin may be needed for quick modifications in an active lifestyle.
Patterns of Blood Sugar: It is essential to keep an eye on blood sugar trends. You could need long-acting insulin at night if you have a tendency to have elevated blood sugar in the morning (the dawn phenomenon). Alternatively, you may need to take rapid-acting insulin before to meals if you have blood sugar rises after meals.
Convenience and Comfort: While some individuals may need a more flexible approach with rapid-acting insulin before to meals, others may prefer fewer injections and choose long-acting insulin.
Combination treatment: Your doctor can suggest combination treatment or mixed insulin if you’re having trouble controlling your blood sugar levels with just one kind of insulin.
4. Topics to Bring Up with Your Physician
Your healthcare professional will evaluate the following while deciding on the appropriate insulin for you:
Your Objectives for Blood Sugar: Your doctor will choose the kind of insulin that best suits your requirements and create customized blood sugar goals.
The level of your A1C: Your A1C, which is a measurement of your average blood sugar levels over the previous three months, aids medical professionals in deciding if you need more intensive insulin treatment.
Adverse Reactions: Weight gain or low blood sugar may sometimes result with insulin treatment. Any possible dangers will be discussed, along with management strategies, with your physician.
The frequency of injections Your doctor could recommend long-acting insulin if you want to cut down on the number of shots. It may be more appropriate to use rapid-acting insulin if more flexibility is required.
FAQ
1: What kind of insulin works best for controlling blood sugar rises that occur after meals?
Rapid-acting insulin, such as Lispro (Humalog) or Aspart (NovoLog), is often the best choice for blood sugar rises that occur after meals. It helps manage the surge that happens after eating and begins to work within minutes.
2. Is it possible to combine several forms of insulin in a single injection?
Indeed, certain insulins, such normal insulin (short-acting) and NPH (intermediate-acting), may be combined. But not all insulins ought to be combined. Always heed the advice of your healthcare professional, and find out whether you may use several kinds of insulin in the same injection.
3. How often should I provide long-acting insulin?
The majority of long-acting insulins, such as Glargine (Lantus), are taken once daily; but, depending on how well they regulate their blood sugar, some people may need to take them twice daily. Tresiba and other ultra-long-acting insulins are usually administered once daily and have a half-life of more than 36 hours.
4. Does taking rapid-acting insulin have any negative effects?
Indeed, hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is the main adverse effect of rapid-acting insulin. This may happen if you take too much insulin or if you don’t eat enough after taking it. Sweating, shakiness, bewilderment, and dizziness are some of the symptoms.
5. What distinguishes long-acting insulin from intermediate-acting insulin?
NPH and other intermediate-acting insulins peak between 4 and 12 hours and persist for up to 18 hours. In contrast to long-acting insulin, which releases insulin steadily over the course of 24 hours without a noticeable peak, it often has a noticeable peak.
6. Which insulin is better for controlling blood sugar over night?
Since long-acting insulin (like Glargine) releases insulin steadily throughout the night without inducing hypoglycemia, it is often used to control blood sugar levels overnight.
7. Can I change the kind of insulin I take?
Under your doctor’s supervision, you may change the kind of insulin you take. Your doctor could advise changing to a different kind of insulin or modifying your dose if you’re experiencing adverse effects or aren’t meeting your blood sugar targets.
In conclusion
A key component of controlling diabetes is selecting the appropriate insulin type, because what suits one individual may not suit another. Finding an insulin regimen that suits your lifestyle, achieves your blood sugar objectives, and reduces side effects requires close collaboration with your healthcare team. Keep in mind that the key to successful insulin treatment is balance—fitting the appropriate insulin type to your particular need.
You can better manage your diabetes and have a healthier life if you are aware of the many forms of insulin.