Which statement about the peak times of long-acting and ultra-long-acting insulins is true?

Which statement about the peak times of long-acting and ultra-long-acting insulins is true?

• A. Long-acting has a peak; ultra-long has none.
• B. They both have sharp peaks.
• C. They both have minimal peaks.
• D. Only ultra-long-acting has a minimal peak.

Answer: (C)

Basal insulins are designed to provide a steady, background level of insulin with little to no pronounced peak, reducing the risk of late hypoglycemia while controlling fasting glucose. Long-acting insulins (like glargine or detemir) are formulated to be relatively peakless over about 24 hours. Ultra-long-acting formulations (such as degludec and, in some regimens, higher- concentration glargine) push that flat action even further, giving a very steady effect without a clear peak. Because both classes aim for continuous, steady insulin delivery rather than a pronounced dose-related surge, the statement that they both have minimal peaks is correct. The other options imply that one or both have sharp peaks or that only the ultra-long-acting has a minimal peak, which isn’t consistent with their pharmacodynamic profiles.

Basal insulins are designed to provide a steady, background level of insulin with little to no pronounced peak, reducing the risk of late hypoglycemia while controlling fasting glucose. Long-acting insulins (like glargine or detemir) are formulated to be relatively peakless over about 24 hours. Ultra-long-acting formulations (such as degludec and, in some regimens, higher- concentration glargine) push that flat action even further, giving a very steady effect without a clear peak. Because both classes aim for continuous, steady insulin delivery rather than a pronounced dose-related surge, the statement that they both have minimal peaks is correct. The other options imply that one or both have sharp peaks or that only the ultra-long-acting has a minimal peak, which isn’t consistent with their pharmacodynamic profiles.