(insulin, nph) An intermediate-acting insulin used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Administered once or twice daily, NPH (neutral protamine hagedorn) insulin lowers blood glucose within 1 to 2 hours after administration and exerts a peak effect at 6 to 10 hours. Endogenous insulin, a pancreatic hormone composed of two polypeptide chains, is important in the normal metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, promoting glucose utilization and protein synthesis; it has anabolic effects on many types of tissues. (NCI04)

(insulin, isophane) An intermediate-acting INSULIN preparation with onset time of 2 hours and duration of 24 hours. It is produced by crystallizing ZINC-insulin-PROTAMINES at neutral pH 7. Thus it is called neutral protamine Hagedorn for inventor Hans Christian Hagedorn.