There are many types of insulin. All insulins help sugar to get inside the cell, but they are not all the same. Each type may be different in how fast it takes to start working. Each type may be different in howfast it takes to start working, how long it takes to control blood sugar, and how long it lasts in the body. These differences are important to know when learning about insulin so you will use your insulin in the right way.
• Onset: the length of time after injection that insulin begins to work
• Peak: the length of time after injection that the insulin takes to reach its maximum effect
• Duration: the length of time that the insulin continues to work inside the body
Three major drug companies manufacture insulin in the United States. These are Sanofi-aventis, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk.
Types of insulin available in the United States
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Rapid-Acting: Administer within 15 minutes before a meal or eat within 5-15 minutes after injection. |
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Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Concentration |
Manufacturer |
|
insulin aspart |
NovoLOG |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
|
insulin glulisine |
APIDRA |
100 units/mL |
Sanofi-aventis |
|
insulin lispro |
HumaLOG |
100 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
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insulin lispro (U-200) |
HumaLOG KwikPen U-2001 |
200 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
|
insulin (oral inhalation) |
AFREZZA |
Available in single-use cartridges of 4 units, 8 Units and 12 Units |
Sanofi-aventis |
|
insulin lispro |
Admelog |
100 units/mL |
Sanofi |
|
Insulin aspart |
Fiasp |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
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Short-Acting: Takes effect within 30 minutes. The max effect is between 2.5 hours-5 hours. The duration is approximately 8 hours. |
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Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Concentration |
Manufacturer |
|
insulin regular |
HumuLIN R2 |
100 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
|
insulin regular |
NovoLIN R2 |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
|
insulin regular (U-500) |
HumuLIN R U-500 Concentrated |
500 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
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Intermediate-Acting: Takes effect with 90 minutes of injection. The greatest blood sugar lowering effect is between 4 and 12 hours after the injection. This blood sugar lowering may last up to 24 hours. |
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Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Concentration |
Manufacturer |
|
NPH |
HumuLIN N |
100 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
|
NPH |
NovoLIN N |
100 units/mL |
novo Nordisk |
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Long-Acting: Provides slow steady release of insulin (*no pronounced peak). Duration up to 24 hours. |
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Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Concentration |
Manufacturer |
|
insulin detemir |
LEVEMIR |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
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insulin glargine |
LANTUS |
100 units/mL |
Sanofi-aventis |
|
insulin glargine (U-300) |
TOUJEO1 |
300 units/mL |
Sanofi-aventis |
|
insulin glargine |
Basaglar |
100 units/mL |
Lilly |
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Insulin glargine + Lixisenatide |
Soliqua |
100 units/mL & 33 mcg/mL |
Sanofi |
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Ultralong-Acting: Insulin degludec has an onset of action of 30–90 minutes and has a duration of action that lasts up to 42 hours. |
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Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Concentration |
Manufacturer |
|
insulin degludac |
TRESIBA*,1 |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
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Insulin degludec + liraglutide |
Xultophy |
100 units/mL & 3.6 mg/mL |
Novo nordisk |
|
insulin degludac (U-200) |
TRESIBA*,1 |
200 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
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Mixtures |
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Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Concentration |
Manufacturer |
|
75% insulin lispro protamine and 25% insulin lispro |
HumaLOG Mix 75/25 |
100 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
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50% insulin lispro protamine and 50% insulin lispro |
HumaLOG Mix 50/50 |
100 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
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70% NPH and 30% insulin regular |
HumuLIN 70/30 |
100 units/mL |
Eli Lilly |
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70% NPH and 30% insulin regular |
NovoLIN 70/30 |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
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70% aspart protamine and 30% insulin aspart |
NovoLOG Mix 70/30 |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
|
70% insulin degludec, 30% insulin aspart |
RYZODEG 70/30*,1 |
100 units/mL |
Novo Nordisk |
1Available in pen device only
list updated August 2018
