Table 2.

Pharmacokinetics of insulin preparations.

Type of insulin	Onset	Peak (hours)	Duration (hours)
Rapid analogs (lispro, aspart, glulisine)	5–15 minutes	1-2	4–6
Short (regular)	30–60 minutes	2-3	6–10
Intermediate (NPH*)	2–4 hours	4–10	12–18
Long (glargine)	2–4 hours	Flat	20–24
Long (detemir)	2 hours	Flat	6–24

*NPH: Neutral Protamine Hagedorn.