InsulinInsulin hormone, Insulin injectionInsulin is the hormone made by the pancreas that moves glucose out of the blood and into cells. As a medicine it replaces or supplements what the body cannot produce, and it is given by injection because stomach acid would destroy it.
Bolus insulin
Also known as Mealtime insulin, Rapid-acting insulin, Prandial insulin
Fast-acting insulin taken with meals to cover the sugar from the food you are about to eat.
It starts working within minutes and is finished within a few hours, mimicking what a healthy pancreas does at a meal.
The dose depends on how much carbohydrate is in the meal, which is why matters for people using it.
Related terms
- Basal insulinBackground insulin, Long-acting insulinLong-acting insulin that provides a steady background level through the day and night, usually injected once daily.
- Carbohydrate countingCarb countingEstimating the grams of carbohydrate in a meal so that insulin doses — or portion sizes — can be matched to it.
- HypoglycaemiaLow blood sugar, HypoBlood sugar that has fallen too low, usually below 70 mg/dL. It comes on within minutes and needs sugar immediately.