What is the peak time for short-acting insulin?

What is the peak time for short-acting insulin?

• A. 4-6 hours
• B. 1-3 hours
• C. 0-1 hours
• D. 6-8 hours

Answer: (B)

The peak time is when the insulin’s glucose-lowering effect is strongest after an injection. For short-acting insulin, that strongest effect typically occurs about 1–3 hours after dosing. This timing arises because regular insulin absorbs more slowly from subcutaneous tissue than rapid-acting forms, so it takes a bit longer to reach its maximum activity. Onset is around 30–60 minutes, and the overall action lasts roughly 5–7 hours, though exact times can vary with dose, injection site, temperature, and individual differences. In practice, you’d often time a meal with the injection so the peak aligns with post-meal glucose rise — hence inject about 30 minutes before eating.

The peak time is when the insulin’s glucose-lowering effect is strongest after an injection. For short-acting insulin, that strongest effect typically occurs about 1–3 hours after dosing. This timing arises because regular insulin absorbs more slowly from subcutaneous tissue than rapid-acting forms, so it takes a bit longer to reach its maximum activity. Onset is around 30–60 minutes, and the overall action lasts roughly 5–7 hours, though exact times can vary with dose, injection site, temperature, and individual differences. In practice, you’d often time a meal with the injection so the peak aligns with post-meal glucose rise — hence inject about 30 minutes before eating.