• Rapid Acting

Onset: start working in 15 minutes

Peak: 1 hour

Duration: Effective for 2-4 hours

Examples: Lispro, Humalog and Aspart ( Novorapid )

• Regular or Short Acting

Onset: Start working in 30 minutes

Peak: 2 - 3 hours 

Duration: Effective for 3 - 6 hours

Examples: Humulin R and Novolin R

• Long acting

Onset: start working after several hours 

Peak: -

Duration: Effective for +24 hours

Examples: Detemir ( Levemir ) , glargine ( Lantus ) 

• Ultra long acting

Onset: Start working after several hours

Peak: - 

Duration: Effective for the 42+ hours

Examples: Degludec ( Tresiba )