short-acting insulin

short-acting insulin,

a clear preparation of regular (crystalline zinc) insulin with an immediate (15 to 30 minutes) onset of action that reaches a peak of action in 2 to 4 hours. The duration of action is 6 to 8 hours. There is considerable variation in individual patients and with different doses in the same patient. Therefore these data should be considered only as rough guidelines. Also called rapid-acting insulin. Compare intermediate-acting insulin, long-acting insulin. See also 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.