Insulin
Manufactured or human insulin is used in Australia. There are five different types of insulin. Each different type of insulin is different in its onset of action, peak and how long it can last for in the body.
Insulin types and their action
The strength of insulin used in Australia is 100 units per ml. In some countries overseas different strengths of insulin are available. Insulin is available in vials cartridges or pre-filled pens. Not all options are available with each type of insulinYour doctor or diabetes specialist will work out which insulin regimen is most suitable for your diabetes.
Ultra short acting analogues
- Should be injected immediately before eating
- Clear appearance
| Onset: 5 to 15 min | Peak: 1 to 3 hours | Duration: 5 hours |
| Drug name | Brand name | Manufacturer |
| Insulin Aspart | Novorapid | Novo Nordisk |
| Insulin Lispro | Humalog | Eli Lilly |
| Insulin Glulisine | Apidra | Sanofi-Aventis |
Short acting insulins
- Should be injected half an hour before a meal
- Clear appearance
| Onset: 30 mins | Peak: 2.5 to 5 hour | Duration: 8 hours |
| Drug name | Brand name | Manufacturer |
| Insulin neutral (regular) | Actrapid | Novo Nordisk |
| Insulin neutral (regular) | Humulin R | Eli Lilly |
Intermediate acting insulins
- Does not need to be injected with a meal
- Cloudy in appearance
- Needs to be gently shaken before every use
| Onset: 1.5 hrs | Peak: 4 to 12 hrs | Duration: 12 to 16 ( up to 24hrs) |
| Drug name | Brand name | Manufacturer |
| Isophane | Protaphae | Novo Nordisk |
| Isophane (NPH | Humulin NPH | Eli Lilly |
Long acting analogue insulins
- Clear in appearance
- Does not need to be injected with a meal
| Drug name | Brand name | Manufacturer |
| Insulin determir | Levemir | Novo Nordisk |
| Insulin glargine | Lantus | Sanofi-Aventis |
Pre-mixed insulins
These insulins combine a mixture of two different types of insulin:
- Cloudy in appearance
- Should be gently shaken before every use
- Humalog Mix and NovoMix need to be injected immediately before a meal
- Mixtard and Humulin should be injected half an hour before a meal
| Onset: varies | Peak: varies | Duration: varies |
| Drug name | Brand name | Manufacturer |
|
25 per cent insulin lispro/ 75 per cent insulin lispro protamine suspension
|
Humalog Mix 25 | Eli Lilly |
| 50 per cent insulin lispro/ 50 per cent insulin lispro protamine suspension | Humalog Mix 50 | Eli Lilly |
| 30 per cent insulin aspart/ 70 per cent insulin aspart protamine supension | NovoMix 30 |
Novo Nordisk
|
| 30 per cent insulin neutral (regular) 70 per cent isophane | Humulin 30/70 | Eli Lilly |
|
30 per cent insulin neutral (regular) 70 per cent isophane
|
Mixtard 30/70 | Novo Nordisk |
| 50 per cent insulin neutral (regular) 50 per cent isophane | Mixtard 50/50 | Novo Nordisk |