Insulin Medications
After oral medications are not sufficient to keep a patient’s blood sugar in normal range. Insulin injections are added. There are different types of Insulin, divided on how quickly they work, when they peak (highest level in the blood) and how long they last.
In the United States Insulin strength of U-100 is the most common. It means there are 100 units of Insulin in 1 milliliter of fluid. All insulin available in the states is manufactured in a laboratory.
Inside the pancreas the hormone insulin is made in the beta cells, which are part of the “Islets of Langerhans”
Patients with Type I diabetes, their auto immune system has destroyed their beta cells, and the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. Type I diabetics have to take Insulin injections for the rest of their lives.
Patients with Type II diabetes make some insulin, but their bodies don’t respond well to it. Some patients with type II diabetes take oral medication and insulin shots to help their bodies use glucose for energy.
The 5 types of insulin a CMAII should know
Rapid Acting Insulin
- Starts to work in just 15 minutes after injection.
- Peaks in about 1 -2 hours
- Lasts about 2-4 hours
- Types of insulin include
- Aspart (Fiasp, Novolog)
- Glulisine (Apidra)
- Lispro (Admelog, Humalog, Lyumjev)
Regular or Short Acting insulin
- Reaches the bloodstream 30 minutes after injection
- Peakes in about 2-3 hours
- Lasts about 3-6 hours
- Types of Insulin include
- Human Regular (Humulin R, Novolin R, Velosulin R)
Intermediate-acting Insulin
- Reaches the bloodstream several hours after the injection
- Lowers glucose levels for 24 hours
- Types of insulin include
- Degludec (Tresiba)
- Detemir (Levemir)
- Glargine (Lantus, Basaglar)
Ultra-long-lasting insulin
- Reaches the bloodstream in 6 hours
- Does not peak
- Lasts 36 hours or longer
- Types of insulin include
- Glargine U-300 (Toujec)
Premixed Insulin
Some patients use premixed insulin. Maybe short acting and long acting together. These individuals have trouble reading the correct directions and dosage. It is also given to patients with poor eyesight or dexterity. It’s convenient for people whose diabetes has been stabilized by this combination.
Inhaled Insulin
Afrezza is an insulin that is “inhaled”.
Afrezza is a rapid acting insulin that is inhaled at the beginning of each meal. Adults with Type I and II diabetes can use the product. Afrezza must be used along with an injectable long acting insulin.
- Begins working in 12-15 minutes after inhalation.
- Peaks in about 30 minutes
- Lasts 2-3 hours
Insulin has three characteristics the CMAII should be familiar with.
- Onset – the length of time it takes for the insulin to reach the bloodstream and start lowering blood glucose.
- Peak Time – The time in which the insulin is at its maximum strength, to lower blood sugar.
- Duration – How long the insulin continues to lower blood sugar.