| Human synthetic insulin | |
| Short acting | Absorbed quickly and lasts for several hours Onset 30–45 minutes, peak 2–4 hours and duration up to 6 hours Eg Humulin S, Humulin R and Actrapid
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| Intermediate acting / isophane | Absorbed slowly and lasts for up to 24 hours Onset 1–2 hours, peak 4–8 hours and duration 16–18 hours Eg Insulatard, Humulin I and Insuman Basal
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| Fixed mixtures / pre-mixed | Mixture of short- and intermediate-acting insulin (biphasic human insulin) Onset 30–45 minutes, peak 2–4 hours and duration 14–16 hours Eg Humulin M3, Insuman Comb 15 and Insuman Comb 50
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| Analogue insulin |
| Rapid acting | Absorbed more rapidly and with shorter duration than the short-acting insulin Onset 10–20 minutes, peak 1–3 hours and duration 3–5 hours Eg NovoRapid (aspart), Humalog (lispro) and Apidra (glulisine)
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| Ultra-rapid acting | |
| Long acting | Absorbed slower than intermediate insulin providing a flatter profile Onset 1–2 hours, no peak and duration up to 24 hours Eg Levemir (detemir), Lantus (glargine), and Abasaglar and Semglee (glargine biosimilars)
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| Ultra-long acting | Absorbed slower than intermediate insulin providing a flatter profile Onset 1–2 hours, no peak and duration 36–42 hours Eg Tresiba (degludec), Toujeo (glargine 300 units/mL)
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| Fixed mixtures / pre-mixed | Mixture of rapid- and intermediate-acting insulin Onset 15 minutes, peak 50–90 minutes and duration 14–16 hours eg NovoMix 30, Humalog Mix 25 and Humalog Mix 50
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