Types of Insulin: Intermediate and Long Acting Insulin

18 Oct 2023 · 1 min

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The speaker explains the characteristics and clinical use of intermediate‑acting insulin (NPH/Humulin) and long‑acting insulins (glargine/Lantus, detemir/Levemir, and ultralente). For NPH, onset is 1–2 hours, peak occurs between 3–12 hours, and duration is roughly 18–24 hours, providing steady basal coverage throughout the day or night when combined with rapid‑acting insulin for meals. Long‑acting insulins have a similar onset (1–2 hours) but lack a pronounced peak, delivering a flat basal insulin level for 24–36 hours; Lantus is the most common, and it must not be mixed with other insulins. The overall message emphasizes that these basal insulins maintain steady blood glucose levels, but patients still require rapid or short‑acting insulin for post‑prandial glucose control.

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Intermediate insulin, also called NPH or Humulin, is usually used to provide coverage all day or all night in addition to the rapid or short acting insulins for meal coverage. The onset is 1 to 2 hours, the peak is 3 to 12 hours and it lasts about 18 to 24 hours. It gives more steady blood sugar levels over a longer period of time. And finally, there's long acting insulin which is called Insulin Glargin or Lantus, dedomy or Levomir or Ultralantate. The onset is about one to two hours. There is no peak, so it provides really steady coverage and it lasts 24 to 36 hours. The most common one you'll see given is Lantus. It is important to note that Lantus cannot be mixed with any other insulin for administration. These long acting insulins will provide steady basal rates of insulin throughout the day and the patient will still need rapid or short acting coverage as needed for meals.