Table 1. Types of Insulin
INSULIN TYPE (TRADE NAME) ONSET PEAK DURATION
Bolus (prandial) insulins
Rapid-acting insulin analogues (clear)
• Insulin aspart (NovoRapid®)
• Insulin glulisine (Apidra®)
• Insulin lispro (Humalog®)
10 – 15 min
10 – 15 min
10 – 15 min
1 – 1.5 h
1 – 1.5 h
1 – 2 h
3 – 5 h
3 – 5 h
3.5 – 4.75 h
Short-acting insulins (clear)
• Humulin®-R
• Novolin® ge Toronto
30 min 2 – 3 h 6.5 h
Basal insulins
Intermediate-acting (cloudy)
• Humulin® -N
• Novolin® ge NPH
1 – 3 h 5 – 8 h Up to 18 h
Long-acting insulin (clear)
• Insulin detemir (Levemir®)
• Insulin glargine (Lantus®)
• Insulin glargine U300 (Toujeo®)
90 min
90 min
Up to 6 h
Not applicable
Up to 24h (detemir 16-24 h)
Up to 24h (glargine 24 h)
Up to 30 h
Premixed insulins
Premixed regular insulin –NPH (cloudy)
• Humulin® 30/70
• Novolin® ge 30/70, 40/60, 50/50
A single vial or cartridge contains a fixed ratio of insulin
(% of rapid-acting or short-acting insulin to % of intermediate-acting insulin)
Premixed insulin analogues (cloudy)
• Biphasic insulin aspart (NovoMix® 30)
• Insulin lispro/lispro protamine
(Humalog®Mix25 and Mix50)
Note: Pork regular insulin (Hypurin Regular Insulin Pork) and pork isophane insulin (Hypurin NPH Insulin Isophane) are available
but rarely used.
Physicians should refer to the most current edition of Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (Canadian Pharmacists Association; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
and product monographs for detailed information.
