Why Do I Need Insulin

What Other Information Should I Know

Insulin 1: What does insulin do, and why do we need it?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin should be checked regularly to determine your response to human insulin. Your doctor will also tell you how to check your response to human insulin by measuring your blood or urine sugar levels at home. Follow these directions carefully.

You should always wear a diabetic identification bracelet to be sure you get proper treatment in an emergency.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Check Blood Sugar Levels

Checking your blood sugar levels is another part of your diabetes treatment plan. It lets you know how well the other parts of your treatment like your insulin injections and meal plan are working.

Your diabetes care team may recommend that you use a continuous glucose monitor . A CGM is a wearable device that can measure blood sugar every few minutes around the clock. It’s measured by a thread-like sensor inserted under the skin and secured in place. Sensors can stay in place for about a week before they have to be replaced and are accurate enough to replace frequent finger-stick testing. The more frequent CGM blood sugar readings can help you and the care team do an even better job of troubleshooting and adjusting your insulin doses and diabetes management plan to improve blood sugar control.

A blood glucose meter or CGM tells you what your blood sugar level is at the moment. Your doctor may also send you for another type of blood sugar test that tells you how your blood sugar levels have been for the 3 months before the test.

Insulin Blood Sugar And Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin is a key player in developing type 2 diabetes. This vital hormoneyou cant survive without itregulates blood sugar in the body, a very complicated process. Here are the high points:

The food you eat is broken down into blood sugar.
Blood sugar enters your bloodstream, which signals the pancreas to release insulin.
Insulin helps blood sugar enter the bodys cells so it can be used for energy.
Insulin also signals the liver to store blood sugar for later use.
Blood sugar enters cells, and levels in the bloodstream decrease, signaling insulin to decrease too.
Lower insulin levels alert the liver to release stored blood sugar so energy is always available, even if you havent eaten for a while.

Thats when everything works smoothly. But this finely tuned system can quickly get out of whack, as follows:

A lot of blood sugar enters the bloodstream.
The pancreas pumps out more insulin to get blood sugar into cells.
Over time, cells stop responding to all that insulintheyve become insulin resistant.
The pancreas keeps making more insulin to try to make cells respond.
Eventually, the pancreas cant keep up, and blood sugar keeps rising.

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Why Do I Need Insulin Injections: How Insulin Worksand Why You Need It

Everyone needs insulin. It doesnt matter who you are, how old you are, where you come fromyou need it. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by the islet cells in the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels. But even in the absence of high glucose, the pancreas always releases a low level of insulin.

Insulin works on blood cells, muscle cells and fat cells to signal the cells to essentially open up and let glucose in from the bloodstream. The cells then use glucose as fuel, or energy. If theres an excess of glucose, insulin directs the liver to store the glucose . So, when things are working as they should, the body keeps a tight rein on the amount of glucose in the blood. Someone without diabetes, for example, generally have blood sugar levels between 72 and 99 mg/dl before eating, and up to 140 mg/dl two hours after eating.

Without insulin, then, blood glucose levels become too high. Complications from high blood glucose can result: in the short-term, a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis can occur that, if not treated promptly, can be fatal. Longer-term, high glucose levels can lead to irreversible problems with the heart and circulatory system, the nervous system, the eyes and the kidneys.

Summary Of Instructions Of Insulin Treatment For Your Dog:

Why Do I Need Insulin Injections? Tips to Get Over Your ...

Read and reread this material so that you understand the specifics of proper regulation and how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia.

Purchase the supplies for treatment. Your prescription will specify the type of insulin and syringes as well as the appropriate home glucose monitoring device and test strips.

Your veterinarian will recommend the glucometer that is best for your pet and can coach you on how to get a tiny blood sample to use in the glucometer. You cannot use another brand of test strips in the animal-approved glucose meter.

Type of insulin: ______________________________________

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Example #: Formulas Commonly Used To Create Insulin Dose Recommendations

This example illustrates a method for calculating of your background/basal and bolus doses and estimated daily insulin dose when you need full insulin replacement. Bear in mind, this may be too much insulin if you are newly diagnosed or still making a lot of insulin on your own. And it may be too little if you are very resistant to the action of insulin. Talk to your provider about the best insulin dose for you as this is a general formula and may not meet your individual needs.

The initial calculation of the basal/background and bolus doses requires estimating your total daily insulin dose:

What Do I Need To Know About Insulin Treatment For Diabetes Mellitus

In diabetic dogs, the main treatment for regulating blood glucose is giving insulin by injection. Dogs with diabetes mellitus typically require two daily insulin injections as well as a dietary change. Although a dog can go a day or so without insulin and not have a crisis, this should not be a regular occurrence treatment should be looked upon as part of the dog’s daily routine. This means that you, as the dog’s owner, must make both a financial commitment and a personal commitment to treat your dog. If you are out of town or go on vacation, your dog must receive proper treatment in your absence.

There is a newer glucose monitoring system that can measure glucose continuously over several days. Talk to your veterinarian to see if this is right for your dog.

Consistent treatment is a vital component of the proper management of the diabetic dog. Your dog needs consistent administration of insulin, consistent feeding, and a stable, stress-free lifestyle. Your dog should live indoors to minimize uncontrollable variables that can disrupt regulation. The most commonly used insulins are Vetsulin®, Caninsulin®, Humulin®N, and Detemir . Your veterinarian will determine the best insulin for your dog.

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What Oral Medicines Treat Type 2 Diabetes

You may need medicines along with healthy eating and physical activity habits to manage your type 2 diabetes. You can take many diabetes medicines by mouth. These medicines are called oral medicines.

Most people with type 2 diabetes start medical treatment with metformin pills. Metformin also comes as a liquid. Metformin lowers the amount of glucose that your liver makes and helps your body use insulin better. This drug may help you lose a small amount of weight.

Other oral medicines act in different ways to lower blood glucose levels. You may need to add another diabetes medicine after a while or use a combination treatment. Combining two or three kinds of diabetes medicines can lower blood glucose levels more than taking just one.

Read about different kinds of diabetes medicines from the Food and Drug Administration .

Why Do I Need Totake Insulin

Diabetes: Why do I suddenly need insulin?

When you digest food, your body changes most of the food you eat into glucose . Insulin allows this glucose to enter all the cells of your body and be used as energy.

When you have diabetes, your body doesnt make enough insulin or cant use it properly, so the glucose builds up in your blood instead of moving into the cells. Too much glucose in the blood can lead to serious health problems.

All people who have type 1 diabetes and somepeople who have type 2 diabetes need to take insulin to help control theirblood sugar levels. The goal of taking insulin is to keep your blood sugarlevel in a normal range as much as possible so youll stay healthy. Insulincant be taken by mouth. It is usually taken with injections . It canalso be taken with an insulin pen or an insulin pump.

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Insulin Sensitivity And Your Dose

You may hear your healthcare professional talk about insulin sensitivity. This is how well your body is using insulin to get your blood sugar levels down. People with high sensitivity need less insulin than those with low sensitivity.

Your healthcare professional can test you for insulin sensitivity, and this will help them decide what dose of insulin you will need, and if insulin of you need it at all.

How Should I Draw Up The Insulin

Insulin is a suspension not a solution, so before administering it you must mix it. Some insulins should be gently rolled and not shaken, while others should be shaken thoroughly. Your veterinarian will advise you on how to handle the insulin. Some insulin has more of a tendency to settle out of suspension, so mixing is very important for accurate dosing.

“The trick is to mix it vigorously enough to blend it without creating foam.”

The trick is to mix it vigorously enough to blend it without creating foam. When you have finished mixing the insulin, turn the bottle upside down to see if any of the white insulin molecules still adhere to the bottom of the bottle. If so, more mixing is needed.

Have the needle and syringe, insulin bottle, and dog ready. Then, follow these steps:

Remove the cap from the needle, and draw back the plunger to the appropriate dose.

After mixing the insulin, carefully insert the needle into the insulin bottle.

Inject the air from the syringe into the bottle. This air replaces the liquid you will draw out.

Draw out more insulin than you need, then inject the excess back into the bottle.This helps to remove any air bubbles from the syringe. Measure the dose at the edge of the plunger that is closest to the needle.

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What Are The Different Types Of Insulin

The key to transitioning to insulin is knowing your options. Some people taking insulin need to use both a basal and a prandial insulin each day, while others may only need to use basal insulin. Learn about your options here.

Basal insulins are designed to be injected once or twice daily to provide a constant background level of insulin throughout the day. Basal insulins help keep blood sugars at a consistent level when you are not eating and through the night but cannot cover carbohydrates eaten for meals or snacks or glucose spikes after meals.
Some people use other medications, like GLP-1 agonists, to help cover mealtimes. GLP-1/basal combination treatments for people with type 2 diabetes combine basal insulin with GLP-1 agonist medication in one daily injection. This combination can effectively lower glucose levels while reducing weight gain and risk of hypoglycemia . Learn more here.

Prandial insulins are taken before mealtime and act quickly to cover carbohydrates eaten and bring down high sugar levels following meals. Ultra-rapid-acting prandial insulins can act even more rapidly in the body to bring down glucose levels. Rapid and ultra-rapid insulins are also taken to correct high glucose levels when they occur or are still persistent a few hours after a meal.

Can I Mix Rapid

You can mix a rapid-acting insulin with an intermediate-acting insulin, according to your doctors instructions. Rapid-acting insulin should always be drawn into the syringe first. This will keep the intermediate-acting insulin from getting into the rapid-acting insulin bottle. After mixing rapid-acting insulin in the same syringe with an intermediate-acting insulin, you must inject the mixture under your skin within 15 minutes. Remember to eat within 15 minutes after the injection.

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Do I Have Other Treatment Options For My Diabetes

When medicines and lifestyle changes are not enough to manage your diabetes, a less common treatment may be an option. Other treatments include bariatric surgery for certain people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and an “artificial pancreas” and pancreatic islet transplantation for some people with type 1 diabetes.

How Do I Inject The Insulin

Generally, you will want to inject insulin as the dog is eating her meal because it is critical that insulin be given with a meal. Some dogs need a second person to hold them steady initially.

Hold the syringe like you would hold a pen or pencil in your right hand .

Have someone hold your dog while you lift up a stretchy area of your dogs skin often easiest over the shoulders but it is best if you use different sites around the body.

Quickly push the very sharp, very thin needle through your dog’s skin at about a forty-five degree angle into the space or ‘tent’ produced by lifting the skin and push the syringe plunger all the way into the syringe barrel.

Then withdraw the syringe and needle. If you are unsure if you administered it correctly, or if you ‘missed,’ do not administer additional insulin. Simply resume your normal schedule and give the next insulin injection at the regular time.

Immediately and carefully place the uncapped needle and syringe into a puncture-resistant container such as a sharps container. Do not leave a needle and syringe anywhere it can injure your pet or yourself. Most communities have strict rules about disposal of medical waste material so do not throw the needle and syringe into the garbage until you know if this is permissible. It is usually preferable to take the used needles and syringes to your veterinary clinic or local pharmacy for disposal.

Stroke and praise your dog to reward him for sitting quietly.

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Why Do I Need Insulin When There Are Other Medications

Today we are discussing insulins however we will shortly brief you on non-insulin medications. Medications vary based on what type of diabetes you have and how well your blood glucose is controlled. Your doctor should choose agents based on your specific needs. Every medication has a different mechanism of action. There are more than 80 diabetic medications in the market. It can be even confusing to your primary care doctor to choose from so many medications. Insulin, for example, is the ultimate hormone all other medications trying to generate in the body. It allows the body to utilize nutrients primarily carbohydrates. Among all the options SugarMDs team led by a diabetes specialist is one of the best ways to choose the right medication just for you.

Generic advice or trial and error methods, on the other hand, will cause you valuable time and money.

How Can I Prevent Or Reverse Insulin Resistance And Prediabetes

Insulin Questions: Why do I need insulin now?

Physical activity and losing weight if you need to may help your body respond better to insulin. Taking small steps, such as eating healthier foods and moving more to lose weight, can help reverse insulin resistance and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes.

The National Institutes of Health-funded research study, the Diabetes Prevention Program , showed that for people at high risk of developing diabetes, losing 5 to 7 percent of their starting weight helped reduce their chance of developing the disease.3 Thats 10 to 14 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds. People in the study lost weight by changing their diet and being more physically active.

The DPP also showed that taking metformin, a medicine used to treat diabetes, could delay diabetes. Metformin worked best for women with a history of gestational diabetes, younger adults, and people with obesity. Ask your doctor if metformin might be right for you.

Making a plan, tracking your progress, and getting support from your health care professional, family, and friends can help you make lifestyle changes that may prevent or reverse insulin resistance and prediabetes. You may be able to take part in a lifestyle change program as part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

What Are The Different Ways To Take Insulin

The way you take insulin may depend on your lifestyle, insurance plan, and preferences. You may decide that needles are not for you and prefer a different method. Talk with your doctor about the options and which is best for you. Most people with diabetes use a needle and syringe, pen, or insulin pump. Inhalers, injection ports, and jet injectors are less common.

How Insulin Treatment Helps Your Blood Sugar

Insulin treatment works in much the same way as natural insulin that the pancreas makes. After you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. That glucose goes into your bloodstream and causes your blood sugar level to rise.

When you take insulin, it helps to move glucose out of your bloodstream and into cells. Your cells use some of that sugar for energy and then store any leftover sugar in your fat, muscles, and liver for later.

Once the sugar moves into your cells, your blood glucose level should go back to normal.

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