When to take regular insulin?

When to take regular insulin?

• A. 15 minutes before meal
• B. 30 minutes before meal
• C. Immediately before meal
• D. 1 hour before meal

Answer: (B)

Regular insulin is a short-acting insulin that begins to lower blood glucose about 30 minutes after injection, with peak effect a few hours later. To match its action with the rise in blood glucose after a meal, it’s given about 30 minutes before eating. This timing lets the insulin start working as you begin consuming the meal, helping to blunt the post-meal glucose spike. If you inject too soon (like an hour before) the insulin might peak before the meal and cause hypoglycemia, while injecting immediately before or only 15 minutes before may not provide enough insulin action in time to cover the meal’s glucose rise. Thus, 30 minutes before a meal is the best timing.

Regular insulin is a short-acting insulin that begins to lower blood glucose about 30 minutes after injection, with peak effect a few hours later. To match its action with the rise in blood glucose after a meal, it’s given about 30 minutes before eating. This timing lets the insulin start working as you begin consuming the meal, helping to blunt the post-meal glucose spike. If you inject too soon (like an hour before) the insulin might peak before the meal and cause hypoglycemia, while injecting immediately before or only 15 minutes before may not provide enough insulin action in time to cover the meal’s glucose rise. Thus, 30 minutes before a meal is the best timing.