Types of Insulin

There are many choices for insulin. If you didn't have diabetes, your body would make different amounts of insulin at different times. It would give you smaller, steady amounts between meals and overnight (sometimes called "basal" or "background" insulin). It would give you larger amounts when you ate (sometimes called "bolus" or "mealtime" insulin). Together, they would keep your blood sugar in control all day.

Because you can't make insulin, or don't make enough for your body's needs, you probably will need to use more than one type of manufactured insulin to get the same effect. These different types of insulin work at different rates and for different amounts of time. Here are more details about the different types of insulin available:

• Mealtime insulins: Mealtime insulins include rapid-acting and short-acting insulins. Rapid-acting insulin starts very quickly and works for the shortest time. Short-acting insulin starts more slowly and works longer than rapid-acting insulin.
• Basal insulins: Basal insulins include intermediate-acting and long-acting insulins. These start more slowly and last longer than mealtime insulins. Your doctor usually recommends you take basal insulin once or twice a day.
• Mixture insulins: Mixture insulins contain a mix of both basal and mealtime insulins in one solution. They can provide blood sugar control at meals, between meals, and even at night, depending on your treatment plan.