Understanding Types of Insulin: 30/70, 50/50, Lispro, Aspart, Regular & Glargine

Insulin is a life-saving hormone for people with diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes and some with type 2 diabetes. However, not all insulin is the same. Different types of insulin are designed to meet different blood sugar control needs.

In this blog post, let’s break down commonly used insulins like Insulin 30/70, 50/50, Lispro, Aspart, Regular Insulin, and Glargine.

1. Insulin 30/70 (Mixed Insulin)

Also known as: Biphasic insulin (e.g., Mixtard 30)

Composition:

• 30% Regular (short-acting) insulin
• 70% NPH (intermediate-acting) insulin

Purpose:

• This premixed insulin helps control both post-meal spikes and background insulin needs.

Onset: 30 minutes
Peak: 2–8 hours
Duration: Up to 24 hours

Use: Usually taken twice daily before meals.

2. Insulin 50/50

Composition:

• 50% Regular or Rapid-acting insulin
• 50% Intermediate-acting insulin (NPH)

Use:

• Provides more rapid post-meal glucose control than 30/70.
• Suitable for patients needing more mealtime insulin support.

Onset, Peak & Duration: Similar to 30/70, but with faster initial action.

3. Lispro Insulin

Brand names: Humalog, Lispro U-100/U-200

Type: Rapid-acting insulin analog

Onset: 10–15 minutes
Peak: 1 hour
Duration: 3–5 hours

Use:

• Taken right before or immediately after meals
• Helps to control postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose spikes

Special Point: Acts quicker than regular insulin, reducing the risk of post-meal hyperglycemia.

4. Aspart Insulin

Brand names: Novolog, Fiasp

Type: Rapid-acting insulin analog

Onset: 10–20 minutes
Peak: 1–3 hours
Duration: 3–5 hours

Use:

• Like Lispro, used around meal times.
• Can also be used in insulin pumps.

Difference from Lispro?

• Similar function, just different molecule and company. Aspart may work a few minutes faster in some individuals.

5. Regular Insulin (Short-acting)

Brand names: Humulin R, Novolin R

Type: Short-acting (Human insulin)

Onset: 30 minutes
Peak: 2–4 hours
Duration: 6–8 hours

Use:

• Usually taken 30 minutes before meals
• Can be used for blood sugar control during hospital stays (e.g., insulin sliding scale)

Note: Longer onset than rapid-acting insulins like Lispro or Aspart.

6. Glargine Insulin

Brand names: Lantus, Basaglar, Glaritus

Type: Long-acting insulin analog

Onset: 1–2 hours
Peak: No pronounced peak (steady release)
Duration: 20–24+ hours

Use:

• Given once daily to provide basal/background insulin
• Commonly used alongside rapid-acting insulins in basal-bolus regimens

Advantage: Mimics natural background insulin secretion with stable levels and low risk of nighttime hypoglycemia.

Summary Table

Final Thoughts

Each type of insulin plays a unique role in diabetes management. Healthcare professionals select the right insulin regimen based on:

• The patient’s lifestyle
• Blood sugar pattern
• Type of diabetes
• Risk of hypoglycemia

It’s important for patients to understand when to take insulin, how it works, and how to monitor for side effects — especially low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

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