What it means
A group of man-made insulinIN-suh-linA hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.Full entry analogs: insulin lispro, insulin aspart and insulin glulisine. Given SUBQ, they start working in about 15 minutes, peak in about 1 to 3 hours and last about 3 to 5 hours. They cover the rise in blood glucose from a meal and are used in insulin pumps and correction (sliding scale) doses. An inhaled form (Afrezza) also exists.
For the nurse
Check the blood glucose, then give it within 15 minutes before a meal or right after, with the food tray in the room. If the meal is delayed or not eaten, hold the dose and ask. Watch for hypoglycemiahy-poh-gly-SEE-mee-uhA blood glucose level below normal, under 70 mg/dL.hypo- belowglyc/o sugar, glucose-emia in the bloodFull entry in the first hours.
In a chart
"Glucose 186 mg/dL; 3 units insulin lispro SUBQ given with breakfast tray."
At a glance
| Drug class | rapid-acting insulin (antidiabetic hormone) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Humalog (insulin lispro), NovoLog and Fiasp (insulin aspart), Apidra (insulin glulisine) |
| Also written | rapid-acting insulins, rapid acting insulin |
Related terms
insulin
A hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.
hypoglycemia
A blood glucose level below normal, under 70 mg/dL.
regular insulin
A short-acting human insulin that is clear and can be given under the skin or into a vein.
short-acting insulin
Insulin that starts working in about 30 minutes and lasts several hours; regular insulin is the main example.