Key Facts About Insulins and Their Actions

The elixir of life for a diabetic type 1.

• Insulins act differently on different people.
• Manufacturer’s profiles of the speed of onset, peak of action and duration of action are only a rough guide and may vary.
• Speed of action of injected insulin varies at different injection sites, eg if Hypurin Porcine Neutral injected above the umbilicus (tummy button) its speed of action is much quicker and similar to a rapid-acting analogue, than if it is injected below the tummy button. Some consultants do not like insulin injection in the stomach area as the insulin can absorb into the fat and this influences release rate.
• Depth of injection can affect speed of action, it is important to have the correct sized needle for the amount of fat at injection sites. Changing needle size has influence on glucose levels.