Intermediate acting insulins are often taken in conjunction with a short acting insulin Intermediate acting insulins start to act within the first hour of injecting, followed by a period of peak activity lasting up to 7 hours.

After this, the activity starts to tail off.

Are intermediate acting insulins known by any other names?

Intermediate acting insulins may also be referred to as ‘isophane’or ‘NPH’ (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulins.

Those who inject intermediate acting insulins should be aware of the risk of hypoglycemia, and particularly the risk of night time hypoglycemia.

Hypurin isophane

Hypurin is based around the active ingredient isophane insulin, and is an intermediate-acting insulin.

It usually starts working approximately two hours after injection and will work for between 18 and 24 hours.

This helps to regulate blood sugars throughout the day.

Commonly used in conjunction with short-acting insulin, isophane insulin such as Hypurin is administered before meals to control blood glucose levels after eating.

Hypurin isophane is available in bovine (beef insulin) and porcine (pork insulin) forms. Hypurin porcine 30/70 insulin is also available.

This is a premixed insulin made up of 30% short acting (neutral) insulin and 70% intermediate acting (isophane) insulin

Humulin I

Humulin I is a human isophane insulin made by Eli Lilly & Co. It can be taken with shiort acting insulin before a meal, or without short acting insulin before bed.

Humulin I has a peak activity between 1 and 8 hours after injecting with a duration of activity lasting as much as up to 22 hours.

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