NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

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When using premixed insulin that contains regular insulin, how long before a meal should it be injected?

15 minutes
30 minutes
5 minutes
60 minutes

The correct answer is: 30 minutes

When using premixed insulin that contains regular insulin, it should be injected approximately 30 minutes before a meal. This is because regular insulin has an onset of action around 30 minutes after injection, peaking in 2-3 hours. Injecting it 30 minutes before a meal helps ensure that the insulin starts working in time to manage the rise in blood glucose levels typically seen after eating. Option A (15 minutes) is too soon for regular insulin to start working effectively, while option C (5 minutes) is even more insufficient. Option D (60 minutes) may lead to the insulin working after the meal has already caused a spike in blood sugar levels.