Types Of Insulin

Insulin helps to regulate amount of sugar in the blood and thus plays a very important role to diabetes patients. There are three types of insulin:

– Rapid acting insulin

– Long lasting insulin

– Short lasting insulin

– Intermediate acting insulin

Rapid acting insulin

This insulin can be introduced into the body through insulin pump or through injection. It should be taken before a meal or at times it can also be taken alongside with the meal. Their principle goal is to reduce blood sugar level which rises after taking a meal.

Rapid insulin is suitable for people with type 1 diabetes although those who are also suffering from diabetes type 2 are also at liberty to use these types of insulin.

They action is very rapid and can at times result to hypoglycemia.

Short acting insulin

They are referred to as neutral or regular insulin. These types of insulin are effective but not as quick like its counterparts; the quick acting insulin. They must be taken some few minutes before taking any meal. Before resorting to any form of insulin, it’s advisable to seek advice from a healthcare team. They are mostly injected into the body via the skin although there is always a risk of suffering from hypoglycemia.

Long acting insulin

These types of insulin can be found in both analogue and animal forms. They are suitable for quite a number of diabetes. Most long lasting insulin remains active in the body for 24 hours with bovine protamine zinc insulin having the ability to remain active in the body for 36 hours.

One of the most common side effects with long lasting insulin is hypoglycemia which has been affecting quite a number of patients using these kinds of medications.

Intermediate acting insulin

These types of insulin are also referred to as Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH). Intermediate insulin become active one hour after it had been introduced into the body and they can remain active in the blood stream for about seven hours. In most cases, they are normally used alongside the short acting insulin which makes them to be more effective.

Patients using these types of insulin mostly suffer from nighttime hypoglycemia.

Using intermediate-acting insulin and isophane can help to reduce the effects of diabetes. Hypurin; which is the substance formed by combining the intermediate-acting insulin and isopane becomes active two hours after it has been introduced into the body and remains active in the body for about 20 hours. This helps the body to regulated blood sugar in the body within this time frame.

Hypurin can also be used alongside short-acting insulin. It is normally introduced to the body just before having a meal as it will help to alleviate the blood sugar which might rise after taking a meal Some of the most commonly available hypurin include beef insulin and pork insulin.

Seeking assistance from a doctor is highly recommended before trying out any form of insulin available in shops as it might make the situation even worse. Not all insulin will work well for everyone; choose one which makes you comfortable.