Which insulin type has a peak around 4-9 hours?

Which insulin type has a peak around 4-9 hours?

• A. Long-acting (detemir, glargine)
• B. Rapid-acting
• C. Short-acting
• D. Intermediate-acting

Answer: (A)

Insulin pharmacokinetics—how fast it starts, when it peaks, and how long it lasts—drives when it lowers blood sugar after injection. A peak in the 4–9 hour window is characteristic of intermediate-acting insulin (NPH). It typically starts working within 1–2 hours, reaches its peak effect around 6–14 hours after injection, and lasts about 14–24 hours. This mid-day peak helps provide basal coverage with a notable increase in activity in that middle period. Long-acting insulins, by design, have no pronounced peak and provide a steady basal effect over roughly 24 hours. Rapid-acting insulins act quickly and peak early, around 1–3 hours, with a short duration of about 3–5 hours. Short-acting regular insulin peaks around 2–4 hours and lasts about 5–8 hours. So the peak in the 4–9 hour range aligns with intermediate-acting insulin rather than long-acting.

Insulin pharmacokinetics—how fast it starts, when it peaks, and how long it lasts—drives when it lowers blood sugar after injection. A peak in the 4–9 hour window is characteristic of intermediate-acting insulin (NPH). It typically starts working within 1–2 hours, reaches its peak effect around 6–14 hours after injection, and lasts about 14–24 hours. This mid-day peak helps provide basal coverage with a notable increase in activity in that middle period.

Long-acting insulins, by design, have no pronounced peak and provide a steady basal effect over roughly 24 hours. Rapid-acting insulins act quickly and peak early, around 1–3 hours, with a short duration of about 3–5 hours. Short-acting regular insulin peaks around 2–4 hours and lasts about 5–8 hours.

So the peak in the 4–9 hour range aligns with intermediate-acting insulin rather than long-acting.