About Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that’s made in your pancreas.It converts sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce any insulin. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the cells don’t respond well to the insulin. Click on the video to learn the basics of insulin and how it can help you manage your diabetes, with Certified Diabetes Educator Susan Meeke.
Without insulin, your cells don’t get the glucose they need to fuel your body. When glucose isn’t used for fuel, it builds up in your blood, causing blood sugar levels to rise. Insulin therapy helps lower your blood sugar levels by functioning like your pancreas would if you did not have diabetes.
Insulin cannot be taken as a pill, because it would break down during digestion just like the protein in food. Insulin must be injected into the fat under your skin for it to get into your blood. To learn more about injecting insulin, click here.
Depending on what type of insulin you inject, it can vary when it comes to onset, peak and duration:
•Onset – the time it takes to reach the bloodstream and begin lowering glucose.
•Peak – the length of time the insulin is working at maximum strength.
•Duration – the entire length of time for lowering glucose.
There are four main types of insulin used to treat diabetes: rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting and long-acting. Each type has different timing for onset, peak and duration:
|
Insulin Type
|
Onset
|
Peak
|
Duration
|
|
Rapid-acting
|
5 minutes
|
1 hour
|
4-5 hours
|
|
Short-acting
|
30-45 minutes
|
2-3 hours
|
6-8 hours
|
|
Intermediate-acting
|
2-4 hours
|
4-10 hours
|
10-16 hours
|
|
Long-acting
|
2-4 hours
|
No peak
|
24 hours
|
Your doctor can help you identify the right type of insulin based on your situation, lifestyle and needs. Not sure what to say to your doctor? For simple tips on talking to your healthcare team, click here.
Sources: ADA, WebMD