Has your doctor already prescribed insulin to help control type 1 or type 2 diabetes? As a patient, you may want to know how and when insulin is used, possible side effects, and what other changes need to be made.
When asking your doctor for advice, start with the following questions.
What type of insulin is needed?
There are four basic forms of insulin:
- Quick-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes of injection and is only effective for 2 to 3 hours.
- Regular or short-acting insulin starts to work about 30 minutes after administration and lasts for about 3 to 6 hours.
- Medium-acting insulins take 4 hours to become fully effective. The time to peak varies from 4 hours to 12 hours, and the effect lasts about 12 to 18 hours.
- Long-acting insulins start to work about 2 hours after dosing, and their effectiveness lasts all day and is stable without peaks.
The doctor will tell which insulin is best for the patient’s type of diabetes and blood glucose level.
How should I give myself insulin?
Insulin can be injected or inhaled.
Insulin can be injected using a syringe, an insulin pen, or an insulin pump, with the option of an injector that does not use a needle. Insulin pens are the easiest to use, insulin pumps allow continuous dosing, and syringes are the least expensive.
Figure out how many injections are needed each day and how much insulin to give each time. If you use an insulin pump, consult your doctor about when you need to inject more doses (larger doses) into yourself.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you may need up to 3 or 4 injections a day. type 2 diabetes may require only 1 injection of insulin a day, or you may need to increase to 3 or 4 injections.
There is also a fast-acting inhaled insulin that can be used only before meals. In the case of type 1 diabetes, long-acting insulin should also be used.
Check with your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The final decision also comes down to cost, so patients need to know which method is covered by their insurance.
When should I use insulin?
There is no standard answer to this question.
There is no standard answer to this question, and it depends on several things.
- The type of insulin used (rapid-acting, premixed, etc.);
- the amount and type of food eaten;
- Frequency of exercise;
- Other health issues;
- Type of insulin delivery system used (e.g., syringe, pump, or inhaler).
Your doctor may order insulin a half hour before a meal so that it is already taking effect when the sugar from the food enters your bloodstream. Figure out the exact time of day for each injection and what to do if you forget to give it.
If you choose to inject insulin, does it need to be injected somewhere in the body?
If you choose to inject insulin, does it need to be given in one part of the body?
Most people give the injection in the lower abdomen, which is easier to reach (make sure the injection site is at least 5 cm away from your belly button). Insulin can also be injected in the arm, thigh, or buttock.
Ask your doctor or diabetes educator to show you the proper way to inject, including how to keep the needle and skin clean to prevent infection. Also, learn how to rotate injection sites so that subcutaneous fat does not harden and build up from repeated injections.
Does insulin affect the other medications you take?
Some medications can exacerbate insulin-induced hypoglycemia, and you should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications you buy.
What foods can I eat while on insulin?
Ask your doctor to recommend foods to help insulin do its best work. For example, it may be helpful to know how much food you can eat at each meal, which foods are best for you, whether you need to snack, and when you should eat. If you have a drinking habit, ask your doctor if you can drink alcohol while on insulin and the maximum amount you can drink.
What is the target blood glucose level?
Your doctor will tell you how often you need to check your blood glucose with a blood glucose meter. Figure out your goals for blood glucose control before and after meals and at bedtime. For most people with diabetes, the goals are:
- 70 to 130 mg/dl before a meal;
- Lower than 180 mg/dl 2 hours after a meal.
If blood glucose is not controlled within the target range, ask your doctor what to do and how often you should test your glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level.
What are the possible side effects of insulin use?
The most common side effects are hypoglycemia and weight gain. Talk to your doctor about other side effects and what to do if you experience them.
How should I store my insulin?
Most insulin manufacturers recommend refrigerating insulin in the refrigerator, but injecting insulin at low temperatures can cause discomfort. Therefore, you should make sure that your insulin is brought back to room temperature before you inject it. Consult your doctor about whether insulin should be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature. In addition, check the shelf life of insulin and have a way to determine when insulin has deteriorated.
Can I reuse syringes?
This will save money, but there are risks. Ask your doctor if this is safe and how to keep syringes clean to prevent infection. If you discard the syringe after each use, ask about the proper way to discard the syringe.
Questions your doctor may ask
- How did you feel while using insulin?
- Are there any side effects?
- How did you feel while on insulin?
- How was the response to insulin? Were there any problems due to hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia?
- Are there any difficulties with insulin syringes, pens, or pumps?
- Know how to store and dispose of used syringes and needles?
- Do you know how to store and dispose of used syringes and needles?
If you have any questions, make a note of them so that you can ask your doctor at your next visit. The doctor will check the patient’s progress to help keep diabetes under control.