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Regular human insulin U100 (Humulin R / Actrapid)

Eli Lilly / Novo Nordisk / other manufacturers

What it is

Established short-acting human insulin. Its slower meal timing differs from rapid analogues; presentation-specific withdrawals in Australia do not mean all regular human insulin is discontinued worldwide.

Editorial review: .

Source dates appear in the references where available; this record has no dated citation metadata.

Trial status, labels and access can change between reviews. How we review the evidence · How to read the evidence

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Available nowRegulator-approvedshort-actingmealtimeOfficial site ↗

Evidence behind this assessment

Key evidence notes. Study results, product eligibility and access answer different questions.

Who was studied?
Study populations and analysis groups vary. Product age limits alone do not describe who was studied.
Benefit or performance
Consistency: Established regulated formulation; absorption remains variable.[1]
Important harms and treatment burden
Read the safety discussion and original sources. A missing summary does not establish safety.
Approval and country access
Country-specific approval and access are not summarized in this record.Approval, trial recruitment, local supply and funding are separate. Check the cited label or access source.
Follow-up and remaining uncertainty
Read the full discussion and original sources for follow-up duration and study limitations.

This record cites company or conference reports. Those sources may describe interim findings; their source type is shown in the source list.

Editorial score: calculation and evidence

A weighted editorial judgment on a 0–100 scale, not a probability of success or a measured treatment effect. Higher criterion scores mean more favorable assessments.

Default calculation: 30 × 20 + 30 × 25 + 30 × 15 + 60 × 20 + 30 × 10 + 60 × 10 = 3900; divide by total weight 100. Unrounded weighted result: 39.

Onset speed30

Label advises administration approximately 30 minutes before meals.[1]

Time to peak30

Short-acting human insulin is not an ultra-rapid formulation.[1]

Short tail30

Longer activity after meals constrains flexibility; individual response varies.[1]

Consistency60

Established regulated formulation; absorption remains variable.[1]

Exercise flexibility30

Injected insulin cannot be switched off during exercise.[1]

Access & cost60

US current listing; Australian presentation withdrawals materially limit access.[3]

Insulins are scored relative to their role peers (see tags: rapid, ultra-rapid, basal, inhaled). A basal insulin's onset score compares it to other basals, not to mealtime insulins.

Editor’s take

Scores are editorial judgments about the evidence and practical features, not measured comparative performance or a probability of success.

The full picture

Regular human insulin U100 is a short-acting mealtime insulin. The Humulin R label specifies subcutaneous administration approximately 30 minutes before meals. It is distinct from NPH basal insulin and from concentrated U500 regular insulin, which has different dosing and time-action properties.1

Lilly still lists Humulin R U100 in its current US catalogue. In Australia, the TGA lists Humulin R vials as discontinued in February 2026 and Actrapid Penfill for discontinuation in December 2026. These are country- and presentation-specific changes; they must not be generalized to every brand or country.32

This record fills an established-treatment omission. It does not imply suitability for an AID pump or equivalence to rapid-acting insulin for meal dosing. Follow the exact product label and a prescribed regimen.

Sources

  1. [1]
  2. [2]
  3. [3]