Fewer than 400 people use short-acting human insulin (brand name: Actrapid). Short-acting animal insulins are also available subject to a special permit; in Finland, there are fewer than 10 people who use them.
Short-acting insulin has an onset of action of 30 minutes to 1 hour, peak effect in 2–4 hours and duration of action of 5–8 hours. The effect depends on the dose, and there are individual differences in absorption. Due to its long duration of action, using short-acting insulin as bolus insulin normally requires a snack within a couple of hours’ time.
In special circumstances, short-acting insulin can also be used in hospitals.