Which of the following insulins is a rapid-acting analog used to control postprandial glucose?

• A. Insulin lispro
• B. Insulin glargine
• C. Insulin aspart
• D. Insulin detemir

Answer: (C)

Rapid-acting insulin analogs are used to manage the rise in blood glucose after a meal because they act quickly and have a short duration, matching meal-induced glucose absorption. Insulin aspart begins to work about 10 to 20 minutes after subcutaneous injection, peaks around 1 to 3 hours, and lasts roughly 3 to 5 hours. This timing makes it ideal to take before a meal to blunt postprandial glucose spikes. In contrast, long-acting insulins provide basal coverage with a slow, steady action and are not used to control post-meal glucose peaks. So the rapid-acting profile of aspart fits the role of postprandial glucose control among the options.