Insulin Safety Center

Types of Insulin

There are many types of insulin. All insulins help sugar to get inside the cell, but they are not all the same. Each type may be different in how fast it takes to start working. Each type may be different in how fast it takes to start working, how long it takes to control blood sugar, and how long it lasts in the body. These differences are important to know when learning about insulin so you will use your insulin in the right way.

Onset: the length of time after injection that insulin begins to work
Peak: the length of time after injection that the insulin takes to reach its maximum effect
Duration: the length of time that the insulin continues to work inside the bodyThree major drug companies manufacture insulin in the United States. These are Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk.

Types of insulin available in the United States