Types of Insulin and How They Treat Diabetes
29.1 million Americans are living with type-1 or type-2 diabetes. With the proper treatment, patients can manage the illness. Different types of insulin are used to monitor blood sugar levels in unique ways, and many are used in tandem to ensure comprehensive treatment.
Learn more about how you can manage diabetes with insulin and explore your options with us below. Keep in mind that there are many types of insulin pumps that can be used to distribute this medication.
Rapid acting insulin is taken right around mealtime to manage blood sugar spikes. It starts to lower your blood glucose after about 15 minutes and peaks 30 to 90 minutes after injection. You can count on it to lower your glucose levels for 3 to 5 hours. Some of the most popular rapid acting insulin types include apidra, humalog, and novolog.
Short acting insulin provides a little more flexibility around mealtime, as it can last through both breakfast and lunch, or lunch and dinner. It typically starts acting 30 minutes after injection. It peaks within 2 to 3 hours and will function for 3 to 6 hours. Humulin r and novolin r are the most popular types of short acting insulin.
Intermediate acting insulin is a good choice to use to manage your blood sugar levels overnight. It will reach your bloodstream about 2 to 4 hours after injection. You can count on it to peak within 8 hours, where it will last for 12 to 18 hours. The most common types of intermediate acting insulin are Humulin n and novolin n.
Long acting insulin takes about an hour to reach the bloodstream and will moderate your glucose levels for up to 24 hours. There is no peak; rather, it steadily lowers blood sugar levels throughout its duration. Lantus and levemir are two types of long acting insulin.
As part of our continued chronic disease series, we’re committed to providing knowledge about illnesses that so many Americans are living with each day. With the knowledge of types of insulin injection and what unique purposes they serve, Diabetes patients can monitor their illness safely and effectively.
We know how important it is to have the funds available to manage your diabetes medication effectively. If you aren’t able to afford these vital medications, apply today for prescription assistance.
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