intermediate-acting insulin

intermediate-acting insulin

Etymology: L, inter + mediare, to divide, activus, active

a preparation of synthetic human or pork insulin to which zinc has been added under specific chemical conditions that has an intermediate range of action. Neutral Protamine Hagedorn insulin starts to work about 60 to 90 minutes after injection, peaks 4 to 12 hours after injection, and lasts about 18 hours. Lente Insulin has a similar action time. See also insulin. Compare long-acting insulin, short-acting insulin.

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insulin (obtained from beef or pork, or human recombinant technology),

n brand names: Velosulin, Humulin R, Novolin R, Lente Insulin;
drug class: exogenous insulin, antidiabetic;
action: decreases blood glucose; important in regulation of fat and protein metabolism;
uses: ketoacidosis; type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus; hyperkalemia; hyperalimentation.

insulin, exogenous

n a type that comes from a source external to a diabetic patient's body, taken to offset the patient's natural deficiency of insulin.

insulin, intermediate-acting,

n a type that is a medium between rapid-acting and long-acting insulins; the onset is not as fast as rapid-acting insulin, but it reaches its peak action over a 4- to 12-hour period.

insulin, Lente

n.pr an intermediate-acting type that reaches its peak action over a 4- to 12-hour period.

insulin, Lispro,

n.pr a rapid-acting type that reaches its peak action in 30 to 90 minutes.

insulin, long-acting,

n a type that has a slow onset but reaches its peak action from 12 to 16 hours after administration.

insulin, NPH,

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Classified as intermediate acting; peak action occurs 4 to 10 hours after administering.

insulin, rapid-acting,

n a synthetic type of insulin used to treat diabetes. Reaches peak action 30 to 90 minutes after administering.

insulin, regular,

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Classified as short acting; peak action occurs 2 to 3 hours after administering.

insulin resistance,

n a complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by a need for more than 200 units of insulin per day to control hyperglycemia and ketosis. The cause is associated with insulin binding by high levels of antibody.

insulin shock,

n See shock, insulin.

insulin, short-acting,

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Reaches peak action 2 to 3 hours after administering. Also called
regular insulin.

insulin, ultralente

n a synthetic type used to treat diabetes. Classified as long acting, with peak action occurring 12 to 16 hours after administering.