Insulin Information & Types

Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar from your blood into your cells, where it is used for energy. People with diabetes may need insulin injections when their bodies do not make enough insulin or do not use it correctly.

Common Types of Insulin

Rapid-acting insulin – works quickly and is usually taken at mealtimes.
Short-acting insulin – starts working a bit slower than rapid-acting.
Intermediate-acting insulin – lasts longer and may be used once or twice a day.
Long-acting insulin – works slowly over many hours to keep blood sugar steady.

Brand Examples

Insulin Types Overview

This chart shows the differences between rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate, and long-acting insulins.

For this class project, we show example brand names such as Lantus, Tresiba, and Novolog.