People with diabetes may use one or more types of insulin.

• Individuals with type 1 diabetes require long-acting and rapid-acting insulin injections. If using an insulin pump, only rapid-acting insulin will be used since the pump will be programmed with basal settings.
• Individuals with type 2 diabetes may require both types of insulin or may only require long-acting insulin or may require no insulin at all. There may be a transition period for individuals with type 2 diabetes in which they initially require both insulins then they are able to be weaned off rapid-acting then long-acting insulin.

Long-acting (basal) insulin:

• Begins working in 1-2 hours and remains active for 18-24 hours.
• Often called "bedtime" or nighttime" insulin, but should be given at the same time every day regardless of what time your child goes to bed or what blood glucose is before bedtime.
• If given more than 2 hours after the usual time, please call our office before the next dose is given to find out if the doctor would like you to adjust the next dose amount or timing.
• You do not have to wait 3 hours from the last rapid-acting insulin dose to give long-acting insulin. The two insulins can be given at the same time but should be given in different injection sites.
• The dose will not change unless the doctor makes changes.
• Brand names: Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee, Levemir

Rapid-acting (bolus) insulin:

• Begins working in 2-20 minutes and remains active for 2-5 hours.
• Should be given at mealtimes if the meal contains carbohydrate and/or if blood glucose is higher than the target glucose determined by the doctor.
• May also be given to correct high blood glucose outside of regular mealtimes.
  • If using injections, do not give correction insulin if it has been less than 3 hours since the last insulin dose, unless advised by our office.
• Should be given 10-15 minutes before eating to allow insulin immediately after the meal, but you should use the pre-meal blood glucose when calculating insulin dose.
• Dose may be different for each meal depending on carbohydrate amounts and pre-meal blood glucose.
• Brand names: Humalog, Novolog, Apidra, Admelog