Diabetes Blog

 
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Are all insulins the same?

Information on long acting insulins (Levemir, Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo and Tresiba) and rapid acting insulins (Novolog, Humalog, Admelog, etc). How they work...

Most common insulin types

Long acting insulins U100 - Levemir, Lantus, Basaglar, Tresiba

  • Last up to 24 hours (except Tresiba which can last up to 42 hours)

  • Usually taken at night, before bed

  • Their effect is seen on fasting blood sugars

  • Keep blood sugars stable throughout the night and in between meals

  • Slowly absorbed, very little potential for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Rapid acting insulins - Novolog, Humalog, Admelog, Apidra, Fiasp

  • Last around 4 hours

  • Bring down high blood sugars very quickly

  • Taken 15-30min before eating to cover the carbohydrates eaten

  • High potential for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if the insulin dose does not match the carbohydrate intake of the meal or of the correction bolus (insulin dose taken to correct a high blood sugar) is too high

Short acting insulins - Novolin R, Humulin R

  • Last around 6 hours

  • Bring down high blood sugars fairly quickly

  • Taken 30-60 min before eating to cover the carbohydrates eaten

  • High potential for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if the insulin dose does not match the carbohydrate intake of the meal or of the correction bolus (insulin dose taken to correct a high blood sugar) is too high

  • Usually cheaper than rapid acting insulins

Concentrated insulins - Tresiba U200, Toujeo U300, Humalog U200, Humulin R-U 500

  • Insulins that have the same amount of units in less volume

  • Usually for people that are very insulin resistant and require large amounts of insulin

  • Options for both long acting and rapid acting concentrated insulins