How long after taking insulin can I eat?

The time to eat after insulin injection varies depending on the situation. Insulin is divided into regular, rapid-acting, and basal types, so there will be some differences in the mealtime for different insulin. It should be determined based on the actual situation of which drug is used. The general situation of insulin injection can be divided into the following types.

Regular insulin takes effect half an hour after subcutaneous injection. Therefore, this type of insulin should be taken 20 to 30 minutes after injection, which can synchronize blood sugar and insulin peaks, effectively controlling the rise of blood sugar after meals.

Rapid-acting insulin starts working within 5 minutes after injection. Therefore, this type of insulin can be taken after subcutaneous injection, with little impact. Some people may forget to inject it, but they can still inject it directly under the skin during or after meals.

The main purpose of basal insulin is to control fasting blood sugar. Therefore, the time of this type of insulin injection is not related to the mealtime. You can eat normally before or after injection, and it can also be injected before bedtime without any impact.