There are 6 different types of insulin to manage Type 1 Diabetes. Typically a person with T1D uses a combination of rapid-acting with a long-acting insulin to manage their blood sugar (pump users only use rapid-acting insulin). The Endocrinologist determines the best insulin protocol to manage each individual’s diabetes.
- Rapid-acting
- Generally starts working (reaches bloodstream) in 15 minutes after injection
- Peaks generally in 1 hour
- Continues to work for typically 2 to 4 hours
- Available as an injection or as inhaled
- Inhaled
- Generally starts working (reaches bloodstream) in 12 to 15 minutes
- Peaks generally by 30 minutes
- Continues to work for typically 2 to 3 hours
- Regular or Short-acting
- Generally starts working (reaches bloodstream) in 30 minutes after injection
- Peaks generally between 2 to 3 hours after injection
- Continues to work for typically 3 to 6 hours
- Intermediate-acting
- Generally starts working (reaches bloodstream) in 2 to 4 hours after injection
- Peaks generally 4 to 12 hours later
- Continues to work for typically 12 to 18 hours
- Long-acting insulin
- Generally starts working (reaches bloodstream) several hours after injection
- No peak
- Continues to work for typically 24 hours
- Ultra long-acting
- Generally starts working (reaches bloodstream) in 6 hours
- No peak
- Continues to work for typically 36 hours