Insulin classes: Onset-of-action profiles
| Insulin class | Generic (brand) | Onset | Peak | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast- or rapid-acting | Aspart (Novolog) | 10–15 min | ~60 min | 3–4 hrs |
| Lispro (Humalog) | 10–15 min | ~60 min | 3–4 hrs | |
| Glulisine (Apidra) | 10–15 min | ~60 min | 3–4 hrs | |
| Short-acting | Regular insulin (Humulin R, Novolin R/ReliOn R) | 30–60 min | 2–4 hrs | 6–8 hrs |
| Intermediate-acting | NPH insulin (Humulin N, Novolin N/ReliOn N) | 1–2 hrs | 3–8 hrs | 12–15 hrs |
| Long-acting | Glargine (Lantus) | 2 hrs | No real peak | 22–24 hrs |
| Glargine (Toujeo) | 6 hrs | No real peak | 22–24 hrs | |
| Glargine (Basaglar)a | 2 hrs | No real peak | 24 hrs | |
| Detemir (Levemir) | 3–8 hrs | No real peak | 17–24 hrs | |
| Degludec (Tresiba) | 1 hr | No real peak | 42 hrs | |
| Premixed | 75% Insulin lispro protamine/25% insulin lispro (Humalog mix 75/25) | 5–15 min | Dual | 10–16 hrs |
| 50% Insulin lispro protamine/50% insulin lispro (Humalog mix 50/50) | 5–15 min | Dual | 10–16 hrs | |
| 70% Insulin lispro protamine/30% insulin aspart (Novolog mix 70/30) | 5–15 min | Dual | 10–16 hrs | |
| 70% NPH insulin/30% regular insulin (Humulin, Novolin/ReliOn) | 30–60 min | Dual | 10–16 hrs |
↵a Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration; scheduled to be marketed December 2016.
NPH = neutral protamine Hagedorn.