Which insulin type has a peak around 4 hours?

Which insulin type has a peak around 4 hours?

• A. Rapid-acting
• B. Short-acting
• C. Long-acting
• D. Intermediate-acting (NPH)

Answer: (D)

Insulin types differ by how quickly they start working, when they reach their strongest effect (the peak), and how long they last. The middle-acting insulin is formulated to release more slowly than rapid- or short-acting insulins, which is why its peak shows up later in the action window. This slower absorption gives a noticeable peak around mid-action, commonly described as about 4 hours after injection, with effects that extend for many hours after that. That peak timing matters clinically because it helps explain when glucose control may be most affected and when hypoglycemia is more likely if meals aren’t aligned with the peak. Long-acting insulins, in contrast, are designed to provide a steady baseline with no pronounced peak. So, the peak around 4 hours is characteristic of intermediate-acting insulin.

Insulin types differ by how quickly they start working, when they reach their strongest effect (the peak), and how long they last. The middle-acting insulin is formulated to release more slowly than rapid- or short-acting insulins, which is why its peak shows up later in the action window. This slower absorption gives a noticeable peak around mid-action, commonly described as about 4 hours after injection, with effects that extend for many hours after that.

That peak timing matters clinically because it helps explain when glucose control may be most affected and when hypoglycemia is more likely if meals aren’t aligned with the peak. Long-acting insulins, in contrast, are designed to provide a steady baseline with no pronounced peak. So, the peak around 4 hours is characteristic of intermediate-acting insulin.