Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam

Regular insulin is categorized as a short-acting insulin because it has a relatively quick onset of action, typically starting to work within 30 minutes after injection, peaking around 2 to 4 hours, and lasting for about 6 to 8 hours. This timing makes it suitable for controlling postprandial blood glucose surges, as it can be taken shortly before meals to manage the rise in blood sugar that follows eating.

On the other hand, Lispro is classified as a rapid-acting insulin, which means it acts even more quickly and is particularly effective for mimicking physiological insulin responses to meals. NPH stands for Neutral Protamine Hagedorn, which is an intermediate-acting insulin, characterized by a slower onset and longer duration of action. Insulin Degludec is a long-acting insulin with a very smooth and prolonged action profile, making it suitable for basal insulin needs but not for immediate blood glucose control. Understanding the distinctions between these types of insulin is crucial for effective diabetes management and treatment planning.