Gestational Diabetes Online Manual

Taking insulin

Your baby's health

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Insulins	Starts working	Peaks	Stops working
Rapid-acting: Humalog® (lispro) NovoLog® (aspart) Apidra® (glulisine)	5 to 15 minutes	1 to 2 hours	2 to 4 hours
Short-acting: Regular (R)	30 to 45 minutes	3 hours	4 to 8 hours
Intermediate-acting: NPH (N)	2 to 4 hours	4 to 8 hours	10 to 16 hours
*Pre-mix: Intermediate-acting/rapid acting Humalog Mix® 75/25 Humalog Mix® 50/50 (lispro protamine/lispro NovoLog® Mix 70/30 (aspart protamine/aspart) NPH and regular insulin** Humulin® 70/30 Novolin® 70/30 Humulin® 50/50	5 to 15 minutes 30 to 45 minutes	1 to 2 hours/ some increase at 4 to 8 hours 2 to 3 hours/ 4 to 8 hours	10 to 16 hours 10 to 16 hours
Basal:** Lantus® (glargine) Levemir® (detemir)	2 hours	No peak	24 hours

The long-acting insulin may work the best between four and eight hours. *Lantus and Levemir cannot be mixed with any other insulin.

The insulin you inject only lowers your blood glucose. It does not cross the placenta to your baby.

Take your insulin at the same time each day as directed.
Take your insulin every day, even if you feel sick. If you cannot eat normally because you are sick, see Sick day tips when taking insulin.
Don't change your meal plan, exercise, prescribed medications or insulin routines without talking to your health care provider.

Most insulins are available in a pre-filled pen you throw away after use. See the product insert for specific use guidelines.

Source: Allina Patient Education, Gestational Diabetes: When You Have Diabetes During Pregnancy, third edition, ISBN 1-931876-21-6

First published: 11/27/2006
Last updated: 04/01/2010