Skip To Main Content
Lilly
Menu closed
Lilly
  • Account Login / Register
  • Medical Home
    • Medical Information
  • Medical Education
  • Science
Ask Lilly

We're here to help.

Chat
Chat with us Chat with us
Question Contact Us
Expand contact lilly
Lilly

You are now leaving the LillyMedical.com website

The link you clicked on will take you to a site maintained by a third party, which is solely responsible for its content. Lilly USA, LLC does not control, influence, or endorse this site, and the opinions, claims, or comments expressed on this site should not be attributed to Lilly USA, LLC. Lilly USA, LLC is not responsible for the privacy policy of any third-party websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.
Click "Continue" to proceed or "Return" to return to LillyMedical.com.

  1. Medical Information Right
  2. Diabetes Right
  3. Humulin Therapies Right
  4. DIABETES: Treatment Options
Search Humulin (type in keywords)
Search Medical Information

If you wish to report an adverse event or product complaint, please call 1-800-LILLYRX (1-800-545-5979)

Loading icon

Humulin® Therapies

Humulin® R (U-100) (regular insulin human injection, USP [rDNA origin])

100 units/mL
Full Prescribing Information

Humulin® R (U-500) (regular U-500 [concentrated] insulin human injection, USP [rDNA origin])

500 units/mL
Full Prescribing Information

Humulin® 70/30 (70% human insulin isophane suspension and 30% human insulin injection [rDNA origin])

100 units/mL
Full Prescribing Information

Humulin® N U-100 (human insulin [rDNA origin] isophane suspension)

100 units/mL
Full Prescribing Information

This information is provided in response to your request. Resources may contain information about doses, uses, formulations and populations different from product labeling. See Prescribing Information above, if applicable.

DIABETES: Treatment Options

A summary of the different medications used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

US_cFAQ_INS102_TREATMENT_OPTIONS
cFAQ
cFAQ
US_cFAQ_INS102_TREATMENT_OPTIONS
en-US

Detailed Information

Diabetes Medications

Diabetes Medications1,2

Class

Brand Drugs (generic)

Mechanism of Action

Biguanidesa

  • Glucophage®, Glymetza®, etc (metformin)

Decrease the amount of sugar made in the liver and improve how the body responds to insulin

Sulfonylureasa

  • Amaryl® (glimepiride)
  • Glucotrol® (glipizide)
  • Glynase®, DiaBeta® (glyburide)

Help the body release more insulin

Meglitinidesa

  • Prandin® (repaglinide)
  • Starlix® (nateglinide)

Help the body to release more insulin; faster and shorter acting than sulfonylureas

Thiazolidinedionesa

  • Actos® (pioglitazone)
  • Avandia® (rosiglitazone)

Improve how the body responds to insulin

DPP-4 inhibitorsa

  • Januvia® (sitagliptin)
  • Onglyza® (saxagliptin)
  • Tradjenta® (linagliptin)

Help the body lower blood sugar throughout the body

SGLT-2 inhibitorsa

  • Farxiga® (dapagliflozin)
  • Invokana® (canagliflozin)
  • Jardiance® (empagliflozin)

Increase amount of blood sugar removed in the urine

GLP-1 RA

  • Byetta®b, Bydureon®b (exenatide)
  • Ozempic®b, Rybelsus®a3 (semaglutide)
  • Trulicity®b (dulaglutide)
  • Victoza®b (liraglutide)

Slow digestion and lower blood glucose levels

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitorsa

  • Precose® (acarbose)
  • Glyset® (miglitol)

Block the breakdown of starches into sugars

Bile acid sequestrantsa

  • Welchol® (colesevelam)

Not fully understood, help lower blood sugar

Dopamine-2 agonistsa

  • Cycloset®, Parlodel® (bromocriptine)

Help to lower blood sugar after a meal

Abbreviations: DPP-4 = dipeptidyl peptidase-4; GLP-1 RA = glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist; SGLT-2 = sodium-glucose cotransporter-2.

aOral diabetes medication.

bInjectable (noninsulin) diabetes medication.

Insulins

Insulins4

Class

Drugs

Onseta

Peakb

Durationc

Inhaled 

  • Afrezza® (insulin human inhalation powder)

12-15 minutes

30 minutes

3 hours

Ultra rapid acting

  • Fiasp® (insulin aspart)5
  • Lyumjev® (insulin lispro)6

1-2.5 minutes

1 hour

2-4 hours

Rapid acting

  • Apidra® (insulin glulisine)
  • Humalog®, Admelog® (insulin lispro)
  • Novolog® (insulin aspart)

15 minutes

1 hour

2-4 hours

Short acting

  • Humulin R® U-100 (human regular)
  • Novolin R® (human regular)

30 minutes

2-3 hours

3-6 hours

Humulin R® U-500

  • Humulin R® U-500 (human regular)7

15 minutes

4-6 hours

13-21 hours

Intermediate acting

  • Humulin N® (NPH)
  • Novolin N® (NPH)

2-4 hours

4-12 hours

12-18 hours

Long acting

  • Basaglar® , Lantus® (insulin glargine)
  • Levemir® (insulin determir)

6 hours

No peak

24 hours or longer

Ultra long acting

  • Toujeo® (Insulin glargine)
  • Tresiba® (insulin degludec)

6 hours

No peak

36 hours

aLength of time before insulin reaches the bloodstream and begins lowering blood sugar.

bTime during which insulin is at maximum strength in terms of lowering blood sugar.

cHow long insulin continues to lower blood glucose.

Enclosed Prescribing Information

BASAGLAR® (insulin glargine injection), for subcutaneous use, Lilly

HUMALOG® (insulin lispro injection), for subcutaneous or intravenous use, Lilly

HUMULIN® N (isophane insulin human suspension), for subcutaneous use, Lilly

HUMULIN® R U-100 (insulin human injection), for subcutaneous or intravenous use, Lilly

HUMULIN® R U-500 (insulin human injection), for subcutaneous use, Lilly

LYUMJEV® (insulin lispro-aabc) injection, for subcutaneous or intravenous use, Lilly

TRULICITY® (dulaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use, Lilly

References

1Type 2 diabetes. Mayo Clinic. Published January 9, 2019. Accessed February 3, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199";

2Medication management - what are my options? American Diabetes Association. Accessed February 3, 2021. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/medication-management/oral-medication/what-are-my-options

3Novo Nordisk® Corporation. Rybelsus® website. http://www.rybelsus.com 2019. Accessed November 13, 2019.

4Insulin basics. American Diabetes Association. Accessed February 3, 2021. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/medication-management/insulin-other-injectables/insulin-basics

5Fiasp [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc; 2018.

6Lyumjev [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2020.

7Humulin R U-500 [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2019.

Date of Last Review: June 10, 2021

Are you satisfied with this content?

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us for answers to your medical questions.

  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap

    This site is intended for US Healthcare Professionals only.

    4.0.17 02/2023 | GLOOTH00001 04/2015 | © Lilly USA, LLC 2023. All rights reserved.

    Product names listed above are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates

    facebook twitter linkedin
    visit www.phactmi.org
    Lilly