2. Long-acting insulin
has an effect which comes on more slowly than that of soluble insulin but lasts longer.
Although regular insulin has to be injected at least
three times a day, long-acting insulin needs to be injected
only twice or even once a day.
This is roughly what the activity curve of a long-acting insulin looks like.
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Most long-acting insulins are nowadays manufactured by processes based on the
NPH delayed action principle.
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They are called: NPH insulins.
Action characteristics:
Onset of action: ½ to 1½ hours.
Peak activity: 4 to 7 hours.
Duration of action: 14 to 18 hours after injection.
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The greatest advantage of NPH insulins
is that they can be mixed in the syringe with
regular insulin. Nevertheless, NPH insulin should always be mixed with regular insulin from the same manufacturer.
Click here to
simulate an example case using this type of insulin
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