Chart — Pharmacology

Insulin Types Chart

Pure pharmacokinetics reference for all insulin classifications — onset, peak, duration, and brand names for rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and ultra long-acting insulin types.

Educational use only. Onset, peak, and duration values are approximate and vary with injection site, blood flow, subcutaneous tissue depth, temperature, activity level, and individual patient factors. Always verify against current manufacturer labeling and provider orders. Data sourced from ADA and FDA prescribing information. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.

Insulin Pharmacokinetics by Class

Type	Examples (Brand Names)	Onset	Peak	Duration	Appearance
Rapid-Acting
Insulin lispro	Humalog, Admelog; faster: Lyumjev	10–15 min	1–2 hr	3–5 hr	Clear
Insulin aspart	NovoLog; faster: Fiasp	10–20 min	1–3 hr	3–5 hr	Clear
Insulin glulisine	Apidra	10–15 min	1–2 hr	3–5 hr	Clear
Short-Acting
Regular insulin	Humulin R, Novolin R	30–60 min	2–4 hr	5–8 hr	Clear
Intermediate-Acting
NPH insulin	Humulin N, Novolin N	1–3 hr	6–12 hr	16–24 hr	Cloudy
Long-Acting (Basal)
Insulin glargine	Lantus, Basaglar; concentrated: Toujeo (U-300)	1–2 hr	No pronounced peak	~24 hr	Clear
Insulin detemir	Levemir	1–2 hr	Minimal peak	Up to 24 hr (dose-dependent)	Clear
Ultra Long-Acting (Basal)
Insulin degludec	Tresiba (U-100 and U-200)	~1 hr	No pronounced peak	> 42 hr	Clear
Premixed
NPH / Regular 70/30	Humulin 70/30, Novolin 70/30	Varies by ratio	Dual peaks (rapid and intermediate)	10–16 hr	Cloudy

Data source: ADA / FDA Prescribing Information. Values represent subcutaneous injection in adults under standard conditions.

Peak Action = Highest Hypoglycemia Risk Window

The peak of insulin action is when glucose-lowering effect is greatest. Hypoglycemia risk is directly correlated with peak — this is when to prioritize assessment and have rescue glucose readily available.

Type	Peak	Clinical Implication
Rapid-acting	1–2 hr	Hypo risk 1–2 hr post-injection; patient must eat immediately
Regular	2–4 hr	Hypo risk mid-morning (AM dose) or mid-afternoon
NPH	6–12 hr	Monitor overnight for patients receiving NPH in the evening
Long-acting (glargine/detemir)	No pronounced peak	Lower predictable hypo risk; hypoglycemia still possible
Degludec	No peak (ultra-flat profile)	Lowest peakless profile; most flexible dosing window

Factors That Affect Insulin Absorption

Pharmacokinetic values are approximate because multiple physiological and technical variables alter subcutaneous insulin absorption. Understanding these factors explains why onset and peak can vary between patients and even between doses in the same patient.

Variable	Effect on Absorption
Injection site	Abdomen: fastest absorption. Arm: intermediate. Thigh/buttock: slowest. Site consistency improves predictability.
Depth of injection	Intramuscular injection dramatically accelerates onset and raises hypoglycemia risk. Subcutaneous target requires appropriate needle length and technique.
Temperature	Warmth (hot bath, exercise) increases local blood flow and accelerates absorption. Cold slows absorption. Refrigerated insulin should reach room temperature before injection.
Physical activity	Exercise increases blood flow to muscles and may accelerate absorption from adjacent injection sites, lowering glucose faster than expected.
Lipohypertrophy	Fatty nodules from repeated injections in the same site impair absorption — onset is delayed and unpredictable. Rotation prevents lipohypertrophy development.
Tissue perfusion	Hypotension, dehydration, and peripheral vascular disease reduce tissue perfusion and slow absorption. Absorption may suddenly normalize when perfusion restores, causing delayed hypoglycemia.

Appearance as a Pharmacological Indicator

Clear solution:Rapid-acting (lispro, aspart, glulisine), Regular, and all long-acting analogues (glargine, detemir, degludec). Clear appearance is normal and expected.

Cloudy suspension:NPH only — normal; contains protamine that forms a suspension. Roll gently to resuspend before drawing. Premixed insulins (70/30) are also cloudy.

Discard if:Any insulin (except NPH/premixed) appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles. NPH/premixed: discard if particles do not resuspend after rolling, or if solution appears flocculent.

Critical safety point:

Glargine (Lantus) and Regular (Humulin R) are both clear solutions. They look identical. Label verification before every dose is mandatory — these insulins have completely different pharmacokinetics and cannot be substituted.

Related Resources

Insulin Types ReferenceWhy pharmacokinetics matter clinically — the rationale behind each insulin class and nursing implications

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Insulin Comparison ChartClinical decision support — advantages, disadvantages, use cases, and hypoglycemia risk by insulin type

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Insulin Administration ChartTiming, meal coordination, storage, mixing steps, and pre-administration safety checklist

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Standards & sources

Fact-checked Jun 20, 2026

This page is written to align with ADA / FDA Prescribing Data. It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →