According to the Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California, San Francisco, premixed insulins can be useful for patients who need a simplified treatment regimen. Premixed insulins contain either a rapid- or short-acting insulin and an intermediate acting insulin in a specific proportion. Patients for whom these solutions might be effective include older patients, patients who have problems drawing up their own insulin and those who have just started insulin therapy.
Premixed NPH and Regular: 70/30
The premixed NPH and regular insulin 70/30 mixture contains 70 percent of NPH insulin and 30 percent of regular insulin. The NPH insulin is intermediate-acting and regular is a short-acting insulin. This combination has an onset of action of 30 to 60 minutes; the duration of action may last up to 24 hours, according to the National Institute of Medicine's Daily Med website.
Premixed Lispro Insulins: 75/25
Premixed lispro insulins 75/25 contain 75 percent of insulin lispro protamine suspension which is an intermediate-acting insulin and 25 percent insulin lispro which is a rapid-acting insulin. The onset of action of this mixture is approximately 15 to 30 minutes and the duration of action is between 16 to 20 hours, as noted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Premixed Lispro Insulins: 50/50
Premixed lispro insulins 50/50 contain a 50 percent insulin lispro protamine suspension, an intermediate-acting insulin, and 50 percent insulin lispro, a rapid-acting insulin. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the onset of action for this combination is 10 to 15 minutes and the duration of action is 10 to 16 hours.
Premixed Aspart Insulins: 70/30
Premixed aspart insulins 70/30 contain 70 percent of insulin aspart protamine suspension which is an intermediate-acting insulin and 30 percent of insulin aspart which is another rapid-acting insulin. According to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the onset of action is about 10 to 30 minutes and the duration is about 24 hours.
