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

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Fiasp	Insulin aspart	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	2.5 min.	50 to 70 min.	About 5 hours
NovoLog	Insulin aspart	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; reusable pen with 300-unit cartridges; pump	10 to 20 min.	40 to 50 min.	3 to 5 hours
Apidra	Insulin glulisine	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; 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	3 to 7 min.	12 to 15 min.	1.5 to 3 hours
Humalog	Insulin lispro (Also available in U-200)	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; reusable pen with 300-unit cartridges; prefilled, 600-unit disposable pen; pump	10 to 20 min.	30 to 90 min.	3 to 5 hours
Admelog	Insulin lispro	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen; reusable pen with 300-unit cartridges; prefilled, 600-unit disposable pen; pump	15 min.	60 min.	2 to 4 hours
Lyumjev	Insulin lispro	Syringe; prefilled, 100-unit disposable pen; quick pen with 200-unit cartridges	15 to 20 min.	2 to 3 hours	4 to 8 hours

short-acting insulin

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humulin R	Regular	Syringe	30 to 60 min.	2 to 4 hours	5 to 8 hours
Novolin R	Regular	Syringe	30 min.	80 to 120 min.	Up to 8 hours

intermediate-acting insulin

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humulin N	NPH	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	1 to 3 hours	8 hours	12 to 16 hours
Novolin N	NPH	Syringe	90 min.	4 to 12 hours	Up to 24 hours

long-acting insulin

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Levemir	Insulin detemir	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	1.6 hours	No peak	Up to 24 hours
Basaglar	Insulin glargine	Prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	1 hour	No peak	24 hours
Semglee	Insulin glargine	Prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	1 hour	No peak	24+ hours
Tresiba	Degludec	Insulin Pen or vial Pre-filled 100u/ml (pen & vial); 200u/ml (pen)	1 hour	No peak	42 hours
Lantus (Basaglar)	Glargine	Insulin pen or vial; u100 concentration	1-2 hours	No peak	24 hours
Toujeo Solostar & Toujeo Max	Glargine	Insulin pen 300u/ml 1.5ml pen or 3.0ml pen	6 hour	No peak	36 hours

insulin mixtures

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humalog Mix 50/50	50% lispro protamine (NPL)/50% insulin lispro	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	10 to 15 min.	Varies	16 to 22 hours
Humalog Mix 75/25	75% lispro protamine (NPL)/25% insulin lispro	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	10 to 15 min.	Varies	16 to 22 hours
NovoLog Mix 70/30	70% aspart protamine/ 30% insulin aspart	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	10 to 20 min.	Varies	Up to 24 hours
Humulin 70/30	70% NPH/ 30% Regular	Syringe; prefilled, 300-unit disposable pen	30 to 60 min.	Varies	12 to 16 hours
Novolin 70/30	70% NPH/ 30% Regular	Syringe	30 min.	30-90 min.	Up to 24 hours

Brand Name	Generic Name (U100, except where noted)	Delivery	Onset	Peak	Duration
Humulin R U-500	Regular U-500	Syringe; 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

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

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.
BCise (Bydureon)	Inject once a week same day of week. Pen one time use only. New unused pen, best to store pen flat in refrigerator till use. If left out of refrigerator, good for 4 weeks at room temp.
Ozempic	Inject once a week. Multi-dose pen; after first use, pen good for 56 days.
Victoza	Inject daily per dosage guidelines in office. 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.

Each vial of insulin or box of insulin pens come with steps on how to store it. As long as vials or pens are stored unopened in the refrigerator (at 36-46 degrees F), they are good until the expiration date. Before first use, insulin pens or cartridges should be stored in the refrigerator. After that, they can be stored at room temperature.

Opened vials of the following insulins and mixtures are stable for 28 days either at room temperature (86 degrees F) or in a refrigerator (36-46 degrees F): insulin glargine (Lantus), insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin aspart (NovoLog), insulin lispro (Humalog), Novolin-N, Humulin-N, Novolin-R, Humulin-R, and mixtures of insulin (Novolin 70/30, Humulin 70/30, NovoLog Mix 70/30, Humalog Mix 75/25, and Humalog Mix 50/50). Opened vials of insulin detemir (Levemir) are stable for up to 42 days at the recommended conditions. 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.

Please check manufacturer guidelines regarding insulin storage.

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.