Taking insulin will lower your blood glucose levels. It may take a week or two before you notice an improvement in your blood glucose levels. This is because it can take some time for you and your doctor to find the right type and dose of insulin for you. Checking your blood glucose levels at home and an HbA1c check will help you to see the effect of taking insulin. Show Taking insulin can also make you feel better. This is because keeping blood glucose levels in your target range gives you more energy to live your life as you want.
Taking insulin can improve your long-term health. Keeping your blood glucose levels within your target range reduces your risk of long-term complications. It can also prevent any complications you already have from getting worse. What side-effects could I experience?When used correctly, insulin is very safe—but it is important to understand that it does have some side effects. Weight gainTaking insulin can lead to some weight gain (usually, 1–3 kg). When you have high blood glucose, your body is unable to turn its glucose into energy. The kidneys get rid of this extra glucose through the urine. This causes the common symptoms of high blood glucose levels—frequent urination, extreme thirst and tiredness. This can make you dehydrated, and you may lose weight—but it is not a healthy weight loss. After you start taking insulin, your body is better able to turn the glucose from your food and drink into energy. This means you may gain some weight in the short term. If you are concerned about this side effect, your health care team can help you plan how to manage your weight. HypoglycaemiaTaking insulin increases the risk of hypoglycaemia or ‘hypos’. A hypo is a low blood glucose level, i.e., below 4mmol/L. Common causes of a hypo include taking too much insulin, missing meals, not eating enough carbohydrates, drinking alcohol, or being more active than usual. Hypos can also be caused by illness (e.g., if you have a tummy upset), weight loss, stress, hot weather or hormonal changes. Symptoms of a hypo vary from person to person. You might feel dizzy, shaky or confused. It is a good idea to keep your blood glucose meter nearby, so you can quickly check if your blood glucose is low. Easily absorbed carbohydrates (e.g., jelly beans or fruit juice) can be used to treat a hypo. If left untreated, blood glucose levels may continue to drop, and this may lead to a severe hypo. A severe hypo is one you cannot treat yourself and where you need help from someone else to recover. It can lead to loss of consciousness or coma. It is important that your family and friends know you manage your diabetes with insulin and what they may need to do to help you in case of a severe hypo. More information is available in the NDSS fact sheet: Managing hypoglycaemia. Your health care team will be able to advise you on how to prevent, recognise and treat hypos. They can also teach you how adjust your insulin (if needed) and check that your insulin doses are still right for you.
A GP Management Plan provides an organised written approach to your care. It can help you manage your diabetes effectively. This plan also enables you to receive a Medicare rebate to see other members of the health care team, such as diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists and exercise physiologists. For more information about GP Management Plans, talk with your doctor or diabetes health care team. Next: Frequently asked questions ⇒
Insulin & Other Injectables
Inside the pancreas, the hormone insulin is made in the beta cells, which are part of the Islets of Langerhans. These islets also have alpha cells, which make glucagon, as well as delta cells. With each meal, beta cells release insulin to help the body use or store the blood glucose (blood sugar) it gets from food. In the beta cells, insulin is created first as a big molecule called “proinsulin.” Proinsulin is broken into two pieces: insulin and C-peptide. C-peptide is important especially when determining treatment because it can be used to measure how much insulin a person is making. The more C-peptide a person has, the more insulin they are making. This can help a provider determine how much insulin to prescribe. In people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin. The beta cells have been destroyed and they need insulin shots to use glucose from meals. People with type 2 diabetes make insulin, but their bodies don't respond well to it. Some people with type 2 diabetes need diabetes pills or insulin shots to help their bodies use glucose for energy. Insulin cannot be taken as a pill because it would be broken down during digestion just like the protein in food. It must be injected into the fat under your skin for it to get into your blood. In some rare cases insulin can lead to an allergic reaction at the injection site. Talk to your doctor if you believe you may be experiencing a reaction. Types of insulin
Premixed insulin can be helpful for people who have trouble drawing up insulin out of two bottles and reading the correct directions and dosages. It is also useful for those who have poor eyesight or dexterity and is convenient for people whose diabetes has been stabilized on this combination. In 2015 an inhaled insulin product, Afrezza, became available in the U.S. Afrezza is a rapid-acting inhaled insulin that is administered at the beginning of each meal and can be used by adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Afrezza is not a substitute for long-acting insulin. Afrezza must be used in combination with injectable long-acting insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes and in type 2 patients who use long-acting insulin.
Characteristics of insulinInsulin has three characteristics:
Insulin strengthAll insulins come dissolved or suspended in liquids. The standard and most commonly used strength in the United States today is U-100, which means it has 100 units of insulin per milliliter of fluid, though U-500 insulin is available for patients who are extremely insulin resistant. U-40, which has 40 units of insulin per milliliter of fluid, has generally been phased out around the world, but it is possible that it could still be found in some places (and U-40 insulin is still used in veterinary care). If you're traveling outside of the U.S., be certain to match your insulin strength with the correct size syringe. |