What is the peak time for regular insulin administration?

The peak time for regular insulin administration is typically around 2 to 4 hours after injection. Regular insulin is a short-acting insulin that begins to work within about 30 minutes, reaching its maximum effectiveness during this peak time. This is crucial for managing blood glucose levels, especially around meal times when the body requires insulin to help facilitate the uptake of glucose into the tissues.

Understanding this peak action helps in timing meals and ensuring that insulin provided matches the glucose release from food, effectively preventing spikes in blood sugar levels. This characteristic of regular insulin differentiates it from longer-acting insulins, which have different peak periods, influencing their use in diabetes management.