The basics about insulin

There are different types of insulin depending on the speed with which they take effect, when they have their maximum effect and how much they last.
Insulin is available in different powers;The most common is U-100.

All insulin available in the United States occurs in laboratories, but animal insulin can still be imported for personal use.

Within the pancreas, beta cells produce insulin hormone.With each meal, beta cells release insulin to help the body use or store the glucose you get from food.

In people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas has stopped producing insulin.Beta cells have been destroyed, and people need insulin injections to use food glucose.

People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but the body does not respond well to it.Some people with type 2 diabetes need pills for diabetes or insulin injections to help the body use glucose as a source of energy.

Insulin cannot be taken in pill because during digestion it decomposes, just like food protein.It must be injected into fat under the skin so that it can be incorporated into the blood.

types of insulin

The fast action insulin begins to take effect 15 minutes after the injection, has its maximum effect after one hour and is effective for two to four hours.Types: Insulin Glulisina (Apidra), Insulina Lispro (Humalog) and Insulina Aspart (Novolog)
Regular or short action insulin generally reaches the blood flow 30 minutes after injection, has its maximum effect of two to three hours after injection and is effective for approximately three to six hours.Types: Humulin R, Novolin R.

The intermediate action insulin generally reaches the blood flow approximately two to four hours after the injection, has its maximum effect of four to twelve hours after the injection and is effective for approximately twelve to eighteen hours.Types: NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N)

The prolonged action insulin generally reaches blood several hours after injection and tends to keep under the glucose level for a 24 -hour period.Types: Insulin Detemir (Levemir) and Insulin Glargina (Lantus)

The previously mixed insulin can be useful for the people who find it difficult to extract insulin from two jars and read the correct indications and dose.It is also useful for those who have manual view or skill problems, and it is convenient for people in which diabetes has stabilized with this combination.

Characteristics of insulin

Insulin has three characteristics:

- Start time is the time that passes before the insulin reaches the blood and begins to lower the glucose level.
The peak or maximum action point is when insulin has its maximum power with respect to blood glucose reduction.

- Duration is the time that insulin continues to reduce the glucose level.

- Insulin power

All types of insulin come dissolved or suspended in liquids.The standard and most used power in the United States is U-100, which means that there are 100 insulin units per milliliter of liquid.However, U-500 insulin is available to patients extremely resistant to insulin.

It has been left mostly in the U-40 world, with 40 insulin units per milliliter of fluid, but it is possible to find it in certain places (and u-40 insulin is still used in the veterinarian).

If you travel outside the United States, make sure that the power of insulin and syringe size are adequate.

additives in insulin All types of insulin have additional ingredients.These prevent bacteria from arising and help conserve a neutral balance between acids and bases.In addition, intermediate and prolonged action insulins also contain ingredients that prolong their action.In rare cases, additives can cause an allergic reaction.

Action times of insulins

The table below describes the way in which some insulin classes act. The definitions are given to help you understand some terms.

Fast action insulin