With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer secretes insulin. The goal of insulin therapy is to mimic a normal pancreas as closely as possible. This often requires multiple daily injections of insulin or the use of an insulin pump and frequent blood glucose monitoring.
Insulin
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1 AnswerA
Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain HealthcareHow quickly insulin is absorbed (goes to work in your body) partly depends on what you do right after the injection. If you exercise the part of your body where you've just received an injection -- for example, you play tennis right after an injection in your serving arm -- you'll speed up the absorption rate. Similarly, if you go in a hot tub or take a warm bath or shower right after an injection, you'll also speed absorption. Be aware of this as you prepare to inject your insulin. Faster absorption may put you at risk for hypoglycemia. Most of the time, it's best to avoid both of these situations. -
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 5 AnswersAn insulin pump is a small, computerized device about the size of a cellphone or deck of cards that delivers insulin continuously through a catheter to a person with diabetes. The pump can be worn on a belt loop or in a pocket. It replaces the need for insulin injections throughout the day.
At mealtimes, the pump can give a quick dose of extra insulin, or a bolus. Using the pump allows closer control of blood sugar levels without as much risk of low blood sugar. It also requires more commitment to carbohydrate counting and to monitoring blood sugar at least four times a day. Pumps were first designed for people with type 1 diabetes, but more and more people with type 2 are using them. -
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William Lee Dubois , Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism, answeredSee All 2 AnswersFast-acting insulins currently come in three varieties: Humalog, NovoLog, and Apidra. All three are made by different manufacturers, but are very similar. Certain individuals will often find that one or the other works better for them, but they are to a very large degree interchangeable.
After injection, fast-acting insulins peak in two hours, and are gone from your system in 4-6 hours in most folks. They are designed to be taken with meals to knock down the excursion and help the body metabolize the carbs from the meal.
This is one reason why the two-hour-after-you-eat blood sugar check is so important. You are halfway through the insulin’s action curve. If you are at…oh…say 118, should you be happy? Hell no! You’ve got two hours of insulin left. You’re gonna crash! -
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American Diabetes Association answeredSee All 3 AnswersHere are some tips for storing insulin:- Do not store your insulin near extreme heat or extreme cold.
- Never store insulin in the freezer, direct sunlight, or in the glove compartment of a car.
- Check the expiration date before using, and don't use any insulin beyond its expiration date.
- Examine the bottle closely to make sure the insulin looks normal before you draw the insulin into the syringe.
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Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain HealthcareSee All 2 AnswersThrow away used insulin needles. There are a couple of ways to do this:
- Use a needle clipper to snip the needle off the syringe. The clipper safely stores the used needle, and you can throw away the rest of the syringe in the trash.
- Throw away the whole syringe in a heavy container that the needles won't poke through -- like an empty coffee can or a plastic bleach container. Or, if local or state law requires it, use a special disposal container and keep it separate from the rest of your household garbage.
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1 AnswerA
American Diabetes Association answeredInsulin works best when injected into a layer of fat under the skin, above the muscle tissue. Several areas of the body have enough fat tissue under the skin for insulin injection. The abdomen, except for a 2-inch circle around the navel, is used most commonly. Another suitable area is the top and outer thighs. This is best used when you are in a sitting position. The backs of the upper arms, the hips, and the buttocks also work well. Some people, especially those with a large body size, have other options. For example, the lower back can also be a good injection site, as long as there is enough fat under the skin.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 8 Answers
Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas. It breaks down sugar in the bloodstream so that the body can use glucose for fuel. In type 1 diabetes, the body has destroyed its own insulin-producing cells and insulin injections are needed to balance blood glucose levels. In type 2 diabetes, people become resistant to their own insulin and insulin injections may be needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Without adequate insulin, blood sugar builds up and can become dangerously high. Insulin lowers blood sugar in those who have diabetes. There are several different types of insulin.
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1 AnswerA
Dr. Jack Merendino, MD , Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism, answeredOn the positive side for insulin, it is always effective provided the proper dose is used. This is true for people who have elevated blood sugar levels first thing in the morning. Many other diabetes medications are not very effective in this situation. The dose of insulin can be adjusted in very fine gradations, which may allow for more precise control of the blood sugar. Insulin varies quite a bit in cost depending upon what kind is prescribed and how much is used, but it is less expensive than many newer diabetes medications and at least some forms of insulin are included on nearly every health insurance formulary (list of preferred drugs) because the insurance company knows that insulin is essential for such a large number of people.
On the negative side, insulin carries a high risk of low blood sugar reactions if too much is used, and many people gain weight when treated with insulin.
Notice that I did not include the fact that insulin is given by injection as a disadvantage because in my very strong opinion -- an opinion shared by almost everyone who treats people with diabetes -- the injections are quick, easy and cause very little discomfort. I have almost never had a patient who didn’t say, “what was I worried about?” after just one or two shots of insulin. -
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Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain HealthcareSee All 2 AnswersGiving an injection -- to yourself or to someone else -- might be scary at first. You may worry about doing it wrong or worry that it will hurt. With practice, patience, and the help of your healthcare providers, you'll soon feel more comfortable.
To inject your insulin, you'll use disposable (throw away) syringes. The syringe needles are short, thin, and very sharp. This helps the needles go in easily -- and makes the shots less painful.
There are several different brands of insulin syringes. There are syringes with different needle lengths and different widths (gauges). Your doctor or diabetes educator will give you some syringes to take home. Eventually, you'll need to buy more.
As you first learn to take insulin, you only need to keep the following in mind:- LOOK at the lines and numbers on the barrel of the syringe. These show the amount of medication inside. You need to look carefully to make sure you're getting the right amount (dose) of insulin for each injection.
- DON'T re-use your insulin syringes. This helps ensure that the syringe is sterile (clean) and that the needle is very sharp every time.
- DO throw them away in a heavy container that the needles won't poke through -- like an empty coffee can or a plastic bleach container.