Medicine & USMLE

Rapid Acting Insulin

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Diabetes Drugs
  1. Insulin Overview
  2. Rapid Acting Insulin
  3. Short Acting Insulin
  4. Intermediate Acting Insulin
  5. Long Acting Insulin
  6. DPP-4 Inhibitors
  7. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)
  8. Meglitinides
  9. Metformin
  10. Sulfonylureas
  11. SGLT2 Inhibitors

Summary

Rapid acting insulin is the fastest-acting insulin type that peaks around 1 hour after administration. It includes the drugs aspart, glulisine, and lispro. Rapid-acting insulin should be taken with meals to prevent post-meal blood sugar spikes.

Key Points

  • Rapid Acting Insulin
    • Drug Names
      • Aspart (Novolog)
      • Glulisine (Apidra)
      • Lispro (Humalog)
    • Onset, Peak, Duration
      • Onset = 15 minutes after administration
      • Peak = 1 hour after administration
        • Peak time is the most important timing to know, since it’s at the peak that patients are most likely to experience hypoglycemia
      • Duration = 3-5 hours after administration
    • Administration
      • Give with meals
        • Patients should eat within 15 minutes of administration
      • Used on a sliding scale to correct hyperglycemia quickly