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Insulin therapy | Diabetes Hub

Learn about the types of insulin used for diabetes treatment, and where to inject it. Also, read about Insulin Pump Therapy and how it differs from injection.

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  1. Overview
  2. Types of insulin
  3. Where to inject
  4. Insulin Pump Therapy
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1

Insulin treatment

Overview

There are different types of insulin and insulin treatments that may be prescribed by your doctors.

In this section you'll learn about the different types of insulin, how to inject insulin and insulin pump therapy.

2

Types of insulin

Rapid-acting: Starts to work within 15 minutes and lasts 1-2 hours

Regular or short-acting: Starts to work within 30 min and lasts 3 to 4 hours

Intermediate-acting: Starts to work within 1-2 hours, maximally at 4-6 hours and lasts up to 12 hours

Long-acting: Can work for an entire day (depending on the type of long-acting insulin)

3

Where to inject insulin
Insulin injection
Where to inject insulin
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Inject insulin into the fatty layer beneath the skin (subcutaneous).

The belly absorbs insulin the fastest and most consistently, followed by the arms, thighs and buttock.

Pick the proper needle length and gauge to reduce the pain. Remember to use a new needle for every injection.

Rotate your injection spots

Rotate injection sites by moving 2 fingers' breadth apart from the last injection site.

Use an entire area before moving to a new area.

By rotating the spots where you inject Insulin, you can prevent fat lumps (lipohypertrophy) from forming just under the skin.

4

Insulin Pump Therapy

Insulin pump therapy is another way of providing insulin to your body that mimics the function of the pancreas.

A small device with an insulin reservoir that delivers both basal (continuous release over 24 hours) and rapid-acting insulin doses to match higher glucose levels during mealtimes.

It usually improves diabetes control by helping to avoid glucose levels that are “too high” or “too low”.

You can adjust the insulin dose to suit your needs  (e.g., change dose at mealtimes depending on what you choose to eat).

Insulin is delivered via an infusion set and cannula into the subcutaneous layer of the abdomen*

*For illustrative purposes only. Actual device may differ.

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