Which insulin type is considered short-acting?

Regular insulin, commonly known as Humulin R, is classified as short-acting insulin. This type of insulin typically begins to work within 30 minutes after injection, with peak action occurring between 2 to 3 hours, and it can last for around 5 to 8 hours in the body. Because of its quicker onset and shorter duration of action, regular insulin is often used to manage blood glucose levels during meals or in acute situations where rapid glucose control is necessary.

In contrast, Lispro (Humalog) is classified as rapid-acting insulin, which acts even faster than regular insulin and is often used for mealtime coverage. NPH (Humulin N) is an intermediate-acting insulin, which has a prolonged duration of action and a more gradual onset compared to regular insulin. Glargine (Lantus) is a long-acting insulin designed to provide a steady level of insulin throughout the day without significant peak effects.