Rapid acting insulin is instant acting insulin, which starts working in 15 minutes and last till 5 hours. This insulin is mostly taken before or with a meal as it acts faster and reduces the rise in blood sugar that follows eating. It is advanced insulin to help patients in diabetic management.

It is generally given to patients with type 1 diabetes but in some cases, it is also given to type 2 patients. Rapid acting insulin refers to the insulin analog made to copy meal-induced insulin secretion. These analogs are more preferred in comparison to the regular insulin as they respond quickly and help diabetic patients to have it prior to a meal.

However, there are many ongoing researches for increasing the efficacy of the rapid acting insulin. Many researchers and doctors are working on the clinical security and efficacy of this insulin to improve the action it takes against diabetes. People who are suffering from type 1 diabetes are taking this insulin to manage blood sugar levels.

Types of rapid acting insulin

There are many types of insulin available in the market like regular insulin, intermediate acting insulin and long acting insulin. Here we are mentioning some of a few types of rapid acting insulin that are available in the market.

Apidra

It is a fast acting type of insulin that controls blood sugar level in a diabetic patient including diabetes type 1 and type 2. Apidra is less popular than other types of rapid acting insulin. Though there is no generic substitute for Apidra but an inexpensive biosimilar version would be available in the coming years.

Humalog

It is an Eli Lilly product with an active component insulin lispro. It is one of the famous rapid acting insulin and generally starts working Under 15 minutes of intake. The effects of humalog last from 2 to 5 hours and thus it is extremely useful at mealtime. This type of insulin combines with intermediate or longer acting insulin to manage blood glucose for a longer time.

Novorapid

One of the main and active components in novorapid is the insulin aspart. It is injected into the person and starts working in 10 to 20 minutes and its effects can last for 3 to 5 hours. It can be taken before a meal or immediately after it to make sure strict control over postprandial levels.

How rapid acting insulin works

Rapid acting insulin is one of the effective ways to control blood sugar level and it is one of the most popular forms of insulin. It can be both bolus doses of insulin. There are many people who find rapid acting insulin more effective and convenient and thus contribute to the increasing demand for rapid acting insulin.

This insulin is available in a form that can be easily absorbed by the body instantly without breaking it down. In the case of regular insulin, the body requires to break down the insulin protein chain into smaller fractions before it can be absorbed by the body to work. However rapid acting insulin instantly absorbs by the body and act within few minutes.

Rapid acting insulin is more flexible and you can easily count on the carbohydrates of your meal and consume insulin to cover that amount. In case, you eat some extra amount of carbs you can take care of the carbohydrates by taking a booster shot at the same time.

It also gives some time to a patient to know about carbohydrate consumption before injecting insulin. However, it is always advisable to consult the doctors first before taking any kind of medication.

Conclusion

The increasing cases of diabetes among the population across the world are increasing the demand for insulin in patients having type one and type 2 diabetes. The rapid acting insulin is one of the quickest forms of insulin that acts in few minutes and lasts 4- 5 hours.

The rapid acting insulin market is witnessing a surge due to the factors like increasing generic population, growing cases of diabetes and effectiveness of insulin on heart function. Though, factors like strict government approval and the huge cost of insulin, weight gain by consuming insulin are anticipated to restrict the growth of the market.