What are two examples of rapid-acting insulins?

Rapid-acting insulins are designed to quickly reduce blood glucose levels after meals. The two examples provided, Lispro and Aspart, are both classified as rapid-acting insulins. They start to take effect within about 15 minutes after injection, peak in about 1 to 2 hours, and last for approximately 2 to 4 hours. This quick action is particularly helpful for managing postprandial (after meal) blood glucose spikes.

In contrast, the other options include insulins or medications that do not fit the rapid-acting classification. For example, Glargine and Detemir are long-acting insulins, which do not provide the rapid onset required for immediate post-meal control. NPH and Regular insulins function differently; Regular is considered short-acting, while NPH has an intermediate action. Glyburide and Glipizide are sulfonylureas, which help increase insulin secretion from the pancreas but are not insulin medications themselves. Hence, the selection of Lispro and Aspart as rapid-acting insulins is accurate due to their pharmacokinetic properties that align with the need for quick action in glucose control.