Short-acting insulin is primarily used for what purpose?

Short-acting insulin is primarily used for what purpose?

• A. Rapidly lowers blood glucose, used around mealtimes for postprandial control.
• B. Provides basal insulin coverage for ~24 hours.
• C. Provides basal insulin coverage for >42 hours.
• D. Raises HDL cholesterol.

Answer: (A)

Short-acting insulin is chosen to control the rise in blood glucose that happens after meals. Its action begins soon after injection and peaks when glucose from the meal is entering the bloodstream, then it tapers off within a few hours. This makes it ideal for mealtime coverage, helping to blunt postprandial glucose spikes. The other options describe basals rather than mealtime control. Basal insulins provide a steady background insulin over many hours—roughly a day or more—not just the meal-related period. And raising HDL cholesterol is not a primary or direct effect of short-acting insulin.

Short-acting insulin is chosen to control the rise in blood glucose that happens after meals. Its action begins soon after injection and peaks when glucose from the meal is entering the bloodstream, then it tapers off within a few hours. This makes it ideal for mealtime coverage, helping to blunt postprandial glucose spikes.

The other options describe basals rather than mealtime control. Basal insulins provide a steady background insulin over many hours—roughly a day or more—not just the meal-related period. And raising HDL cholesterol is not a primary or direct effect of short-acting insulin.