When to give insulin? ——A medication guide that diabetics must know
Insulin therapy is an important means of controlling blood sugar, but many diabetic patients are confused about the timing of injections. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide you with a detailed analysis of the correct usage time of insulin, and attach structured data for reference.
1. Insulin type and injection time comparison table

| Insulin type | Onset of effect | peak time | duration | Recommended injection time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-short-acting (Asparagus/Laisin) | 10-15 minutes | 1-2 hours | 3-5 hours | 0-15 minutes before meals |
| Short-acting (ordinary) | 30 minutes | 2-4 hours | 6-8 hours | 30 minutes before meal |
| Medium potency (NPH) | 2-4 hours | 4-12 hours | 18-24 hours | Fixed time in morning and evening |
| Long-lasting (Glargine/Dete) | 2-4 hours | No peak | more than 24 hours | Fixed time every day |
| Premixed (30R/50R) | 30 minutes | double peak | 12-24 hours | 30 minutes before meals (1-2 times a day) |
2. 4 typical situations that require insulin injection
1.type 1 diabetics: Lifelong insulin treatment is required, and a combination of basal + mealtime insulin is required.
2.Type 2 diabetes occurs when::
| situation | Solutions |
|---|---|
| Oral medicine fails (HbA1c>9%) | Initiate intensive insulin therapy |
| Acute complications (ketoacidosis) | Inject intravenous insulin immediately |
| Perioperative/serious infection | Temporary switch to insulin control |
| gestational diabetes | Used when diet control is ineffective |
3.Blood sugar management during special periods:
• Fasting blood glucose >7mmol/L: It is recommended to inject long-acting insulin before going to bed
• Postprandial blood sugar >10mmol/L: It is recommended to inject rapid-acting insulin before meals
3. The latest hot discussions in 2024
1.Smart insulin pens become a hot topic: The latest survey shows that smart syringes with memory function can reduce injection time errors by 72%.
2.Breakthrough in chronobiology research: The latest article in the Nature journal points out that long-acting insulin injections at 6 a.m. are more effective than at night.
3.Insulin injection misunderstandings ranking:
| Misunderstanding | Proportion | Correct approach |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce dose if it hurts | 43% | Change injection site rather than reducing dose |
| Feel free to adjust injection time | 38% | Strictly follow doctor’s instructions and set time |
| Eat immediately after injection | 29% | Wait time based on insulin type |
4. Five golden rules recommended by experts
1.timing principle: Inject long-acting insulin at a fixed time every day, with an error of no more than 1 hour.
2.matching principle: The pre-meal insulin injection time needs to be accurately matched with the meal time.
3.Monitoring principles: Blood glucose needs to be monitored at 7 time points after injection (fasting, before and after meals, and before going to bed).
4.rotation principle: The injection site should be rotated in the order of abdomen → thigh → upper arm → buttocks.
5.emergency principle: Carry fast-acting carbohydrates with you to deal with possible hypoglycemia.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if I forget to take insulin?
A: Rapid-acting insulin: Immediately re-inject and shorten the interval between the next injection; long-acting insulin: Immediately re-inject when discovered, and the original time will be used next time.
Q: How to deal with travel time difference?
A: East-west travel: adjust the injection time by 1 hour for every 2 time zones crossed; north-south travel: keep the original injection time.
By scientifically controlling the timing of insulin injections and cooperating with regular blood sugar monitoring, diabetic patients can achieve good blood sugar control. It is recommended to review the insulin regimen every 3 months and make timely adjustments according to seasonal changes and physical conditions.
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