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Insulin

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 14, 2023.

What is Insulin?

Insulin is a hormone that is produced naturally in our bodies. Its main role is to allow cells throughout the body to uptake glucose (sugar) and convert it into a form that can be used by these cells for energy. Naturally occurring human insulin is made by beta cells within the pancreas, but people with diabetes have little or no natural insulin release.

Insulin is mostly used to treat type 1 diabetes but can be used in people with type 2 diabetes if insulin levels remain low despite the use of other types of medications. Insulin may also be given to pregnant women who develop a type of diabetes during pregnancy called gestational diabetes.

Insulin is available as synthetic human insulin (made in a laboratory but resembles naturally occurring human insulin), insulin analogs (human insulin that has been genetically modified), and biosimilars. Insulin analogs are better than standard human insulin at mimicking natural insulin release. It is easier to predict how fast and how quickly they will be absorbed (taken up by the cells in the body) and how long they will last. Biosimilars can be used in place of brand name insulins and usually cost less.

Insulins are typically classified as rapid-acting, regular or short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and ultra-long acting. Combination insulins, that mix together different types, for example, rapid-acting insulin with intermediate-acting insulin, are also available.

 

List of Insulin

View by  Brand | Generic
Drug Name Avg. Rating Reviews
Tresiba (Pro)
Generic name: insulin degludec
4.2
150 reviews
Basaglar (Pro)
Generic name: insulin glargine
2.5
146 reviews
Levemir (Pro)
Generic name: insulin detemir
4.7
69 reviews
Toujeo SoloStar (Pro)
Generic name: insulin glargine
3.9
45 reviews
Lantus (Pro)
Generic name: insulin glargine
6.6
41 reviews
Afrezza (Pro)
Generic name: insulin inhalation, rapid acting
5.4
37 reviews
Humalog KwikPen
Generic name: insulin lispro
3.4
34 reviews
Novolog
Generic name: insulin aspart
5.3
31 reviews
Lantus SoloStar
Generic name: insulin glargine
7.4
31 reviews
Admelog (Pro)
Generic name: insulin lispro
2.1
23 reviews
Humalog (Pro)
Generic name: insulin lispro
6.9
20 reviews
Semglee (Pro)
Generic name: insulin glargine
3.2
10 reviews
Humulin R U-500 (Concentrated) (Pro)
Generic name: insulin regular
6.4
8 reviews
Novolin N (Pro)
Generic name: insulin isophane
7.8
7 reviews
Novolin R (Pro)
Generic name: insulin regular
7.3
6 reviews
NovoLog FlexPen
Generic name: insulin aspart
6.4
5 reviews
Fiasp (Pro)
Generic name: insulin aspart
7.6
5 reviews
Ryzodeg 70/30
Generic name: insulin aspart/insulin degludec
5.0
4 reviews
Novolin 70/30 (Pro)
Generic name: insulin isophane / insulin regular
8.2
4 reviews
Humulin R U-500 KwikPen
Generic name: insulin regular
7.8
4 reviews
Humulin N (Pro)
Generic name: insulin isophane
9.5
4 reviews
NovoLog Mix 70/30
Generic name: insulin aspart/insulin aspart protamine
10
3 reviews
Humulin N Pen
Generic name: insulin isophane
7.5
3 reviews
Humalog Mix 75/25
Generic name: insulin lispro/insulin lispro protamine
9.3
3 reviews
Exubera
Generic name: insulin inhalation, rapid acting
10
3 reviews
Apidra (Pro)
Generic name: insulin glulisine
6.0
3 reviews
Lyumjev (Pro)
Generic name: insulin lispro
7.5
2 reviews
Toujeo Max SoloStar
Generic name: insulin glargine
9.0
1 review
ReliOn/Novolin 70/30
Generic name: insulin isophane / insulin regular
9.0
1 review
NovoLog Mix 70/30 FlexPen
Generic name: insulin aspart/insulin aspart protamine
1 review
Humulin R (Pro)
Generic name: insulin regular
9.0
1 review
Humulin 70/30 (Pro)
Generic name: insulin isophane / insulin regular
6.0
1 review
Rezvoglar (Pro)
Generic name: insulin glargine
No reviews
NovoLog PenFill
Generic name: insulin aspart
No reviews
Myxredlin
Generic name: insulin regular
No reviews
Humulin L
Generic name: insulin zinc
No reviews
Humulin 70/30 Pen
Generic name: insulin isophane / insulin regular
No reviews
Humulin 50/50
Generic name: insulin isophane / insulin regular
No reviews
Humalog Mix 75/25 KwikPen
Generic name: insulin lispro/insulin lispro protamine
No reviews
Humalog Mix 50/50 KwikPen
Generic name: insulin lispro/insulin lispro protamine
No reviews
Humalog Mix 50/50
Generic name: insulin lispro/insulin lispro protamine
No reviews
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.