Table 4.

Time-Action Profiles of Subcutaneous Insulins

Insulin Type	Onset	Peak (hrs)	Duration of Action (hrs)
Rapid-acting
Lispro, aspart, glulisine	5–15 min	0.5–1.5	2–4
Short-acting
Regular human	30–60 min	2–3	3–6
Intermediate-acting
Human NPH	2–4 hrs	4–10	10–16
Long-acting (basal)
Insulin glargine	1–2 hrs	No pronounced peak	≈24
Insulin detemir	1–2 hrs	Less pronounced peak (≈6)	18–24

Reproduced with permission from Edelman S, Dailey G, Flood T, Kuritzky L, Renda S. Oestopath Med Primary Care. 2007;1:9. doi:10.1186/1750-4732-1-9.[69]