CCS EDUCATION | 8 MIN READ

insulin and other injectable medications

Insulin is a hormone made of protein. It is made in the pancreas. Insulin allows glucose to enter most body cells. This lowers the level of glucose in the blood. In diabetes, there is either not enough insulin or the body will not let it work the way it should. Insulin cannot be taken by mouth, because it is destroyed by normal stomach acid. Insulin may be prescribed along with diabetes pills or other diabetes injectables to manage glucose.

NOTE: While people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin, there are times when additional therapies may play a role

Rapid-acting insulin

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Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Fiasp	Insulin aspart	Vials; prefilled cartridges; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	15 to 20 min.	50 to 70 min.	About 3 to 5 hours
NovoLog	Insulin aspart	Vial; Novo pen junior; Minimed Inpen; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; reusable pen with 300-unit cartridges; pump	10 to 20 min.	1 to 3 hours	3 to 5 hours
Apidra	Insulin glulisine	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; can be used in pump	10 to 20 min.	30 to 90 min.	2 to 4 hours
Afrezza	Insulin human (inhaled powder)	Inhaler with 4-, 8-, and 12-unit cartridges	1 to 12 min.	35 to 45 min.	1.5 to 3 hours
Humalog	Insulin lispro (Also available in U-200)	U-100: vial or prefilled pen. For pump use, use U-100 from a vial and follow the pump manufacturer’s instructions. U-200: prefilled pen for subcutaneous injection only; do not use in a pump or intravenously. Never transfer Humalog from a pen into a syringe.	10 to 20 min.	30 to 90 min.	3 to 5 hours
Admelog	Insulin lispro	Vial (10 mL or 3 mL); prefilled pen; can be used in a pump	15 to 30 min.	½ to 2.5 hrs	3 to 5 hrs
Lyumjev	Insulin lispro	Syringe; prefilled, 100-unit disposable pen; quick pen with 200-unit cartridges	15 to 30 min.	½ to 2.5 hrs	3 to 5 hrs

short-acting insulin

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Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humulin R	Regular	Vial; prescription not required	30 to 60 min.	2 to 4 hours	5 to 8 hours
Novolin R	Regular	Vial; 3 mL prefilled pen; prescription not required	30 to 60 min.	2 to 4 hours	5 to 8 hours

intermediate-acting insulin

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Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humulin N Novolin N	NPH	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen. prescription not required	2 to 4 hours	4 to 10 hours	10 to 16 hours

long-acting insulin

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Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Basaglar Semglee Lantus	Insulin glargine	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	2 to 4 hours	No peak	20 to 24 hours
Rezvoglar Langlara	Insulin glargine	Prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; 3 mL prefilled pen	1 to 2 hours	No peak	24+ hours
Tresiba	Degludec	U-100 insulin (100 units/ml): prefilled pen and vials U-200 insulin (200 units/ml): prefilled pen	1hour	No peak	25 to 42 hours
Toujeo Solostar & Toujeo Max	Glargine	300u/mL prefilled pen; Toujeo contains 450 units per pen and the Max contains 900 units per pen	6 hour	No peak	36 hours

weekly insulin

Weekly insulins are taken once a week, on the same day each week. They are not for people with type 1 diabetes.

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Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Awiqli (approved for adults with Type 2 diabetes)	Insulin Icodec-abae	Prefilled pen that is more concentrated (700 u/mL); Do not use in an insulin pump, do not dilute or mix with any other insulin or liquid	No distinct onset	Roughly 15 hours after given	7 days
Onswik (approved for adults with Type 2 diabetes)	Insulin efsitora alfa-gobe	Prefilled KwikPen, more concentrated (500 units/mL or 1,000 units/mL); do not use in an insulin pump	No quick onset. Works slowly and steadily; full effect in about 4 weeks	No peak	7 days

insulin mixtures

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Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humalog Mix 50/50	50% lispro protamine (NPL)/50% insulin lispro	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	15 to 30 min.	Varies 1 to 5 hours	11 to 22 hours
Humalog Mix 75/25	75% lispro protamine (NPL)/25% insulin lispro	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	15 to 30 min.	2 hours	Up to 22 hours
NovoLog Mix 70/30	70% aspart protamine/ 30% insulin aspart	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	10 to 20 min.	Varies 1 to 4 hours	Up to 24 hours
Humulin 70/30	70% NPH/ 30% Regular	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen, prescription not required	30 to 90 min.	Varies 1.5 to 6.5 hours	18 to 24 hours
Novolin 70/30	70% NPH/ 30% Regular	Vial; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen, prescription not required	30 min.	Varies 2 to 12 hours	Up to 24 hours

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humulin R U-500	Regular U-500	Disposable pen	30 min	4 to 8 hours	Up to 24 hours

insulin pens

Insulin can be given with a syringe and some insulin is available in pen form, which is an easy way to use insulin. Insulin pens fall into two groups:

other mixed medications: Insulin + incretin

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Soliqua: Lantus & Lixisenatide	Once opened, good for 28 days after first use.	Inject separate from rapid acting.
Xultophy: Tresiba & Victoza	Once opened, good for 21 days after first use.	Inject separate from rapid acting insulin.

incretin – these drugs are best refrigerated until time of use

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Trulicity (Dulaglutide)	Inject once a week same day of week. Pen is stable at room temperature for 14 days if left out. One time use only.
Ozempic	Inject once a week. Multi-dose pen; after first use, pen good for 56 days.
Victoza	Inject once daily. Your provider will tell you your dose. Multi-dose pen, stable at room temperature for 30 days.

Always take your medication as prescribed. Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to understand how to use your prescription medications safely and effectively. According to ADA, glucose targets are individualized based on patient age and with presence of diabetes related complications.

HOW LONG IS MY OPENED INSULIN GOOD FOR?

Opened vials or pens of insulin should be stored according to the following guidelines:

• Glargine (Lantus): After first use, refrigerate the vial or keep below 86°F. Keep SoloStar pens
  below 86°F; do not refrigerate. Discard either after 28 days.
• Glulisine (Apidra): 28 days
• Aspart (NovoLog): 28 days
• Lispro (Humalog): 28 days
• Humulin N: KwikPen — 14 days | Vial — 31 days
• Humulin R: Vial — 31 days
• Humulin 70/30: Pen — 10 days | Vial — 31 days
• Novolin N, R, and 70/30: Opened vial — 42 days at or below 77°F; do not refrigerate. In-use
  FlexPen — 28 days below 86°F; do not refrigerate.
• NovoLog 70/30: Pen — 14 days | Vial — 28 days
• Humalog 75/25: KwikPen — 10 days | Vial — 28 days
• Humalog 50/50: KwikPen — 10 days | Vial — 28 days
• Humulin R U-500 KwikPen: 28 days at room temperature; do not refrigerate.
• Degludec (Tresiba): 56 days
• Glargine U-300 (Toujeo): 56 days

Insulin should not be allowed to freeze. If vials or pens are found to be frozen, they should be discarded and
replaced with fresh supplies. Unopened insulin should be stored in the refrigerator until the expiration date
indicated on the package.

Learn more about different medication options…

This site is for educational purposes only. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health.