Insulin Prescribing

Question 1

Rapid acting (given at start of meals)

Answer 1

Novorapid (Aspart)
Humalog (Lispro)
Apidra (Glulisine)

Question 2

Short acting (given 30 mins before meals)

Answer 2

Actrarapid

Humulin S

Question 3

Intermediate-acting (usually given once / twice daily or as a part of a mix)

Answer 3

Humulin I
Insulatard
Insuman basal

Question 4

Long-acting (given once daily)

Answer 4

Levemir (Determir)
Lantus (Glargine)
Tresiba (Degludec)

Question 5

Mixtures (for twice daily pre-mixed regimens)

Answer 5

Intermediate + short (given 30 mins before breakfast and dinner):
Humulin M3 (30% short-acting)
Insuman comb 15 or 25 or 50 (15/25/50 - short acting respectively)

Intermediate + rapid (given at start of breakfast and dinner):
NovoMix 30 (30% rapid acting)
Humalog Mix 25 or 50 (25/50% rapid acting)

Question 6

Regimens

Answer 6

Basal bolus: basal long-acting insulin given at night with rapid acting insulin given before every meal

Twice daily pre-mixed regimen (mixed intermediate-acting and short / rapid acting insulin given twice daily, before breakfast and before dinner)

Intermediate insulin once/twice daily: may also be used in T2DM to supplement oral hypoglycaemics and aid glycaemic control in the day (OM), at night/ in morning (ON) or both (BD)