Basal Insulin Types
A basal (“background”) insulin is meant to hold you flat around the clock. Every type here is dosed correctly, so any drift you see comes from the shape of its curve alone.
Basal Type
NPH (Humulin N, Novolin N) — intermediate, ~16 h
Detemir (Levemir) — long, ~18–22 h
Glargine (Lantus, Basaglar, Toujeo) — long, ~20–24 h
Degludec (Tresiba) — ultra-long, 42+ h
Dosing Schedule
Once daily — one shot
Split — two shots, 12 h apart
Insulin effect
Blood sugar
Educational only — not medical advice. Profiles are approximations. © 2026 Beta Cell Foundation