There are several types of insulin used for diabetes management. Some of the most common ones include rapid-acting or short-acting and long-acting insulin. Most patients with types 1 diabetes are treated with "intensive" or "basal-bolus" insulin therapy, which requires four injections a day.
The general types of insulin therapy include: Long, ultralong or intermediate-acting insulin. When you are not eating, your liver releases glucose so the body continually has energy. Long, ultra-long or intermediate-acting insulin helps the body use this glucose and keeps glucose levels from rising too high. Rapid or short-acting insulin is ideal for preventing blood sugar spikes after you eat. They begin to work within 15 minutes and are out of your system in 3 to 5 hours.
Here is a list of some common types of insulin and their characteristics: