Treatment FAQ

insulin administered by injection is the main treatment for which type of diabetes

by Kayleigh Little Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Human insulin is used to control blood sugar in people who have type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not make insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or in people who have type 2 diabetes (condition in which the blood sugar is too high because the body does not produce or use ...Oct 15, 2019

Full Answer

What are the new injections for diabetes?

  • Canagliflozin (Invokana)
  • Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
  • Empagliflozin (Jardiance)

How to give yourself an insulin injection?

Insert the needle (from the syringe or pen) at a 90-degree angle into the skin. Push the plunger or the end of the pen to inject the insulin into the fat layer just under the skin. Slowly count to five to lower the chance of insulin leakage. Pull out the needle and dispose of it in the proper sharps container.

How do you start insulin?

  • It’s important to remember to take your insulin injection as scheduled. ...
  • Dull needles can sting and cause pain. ...
  • Reduce the sting of the insulin by letting it warm to room temperature before injecting it. ...
  • If you use an alcohol pad to clean the injection area, let your skin dry before you inject the insulin to help lessen any stinging.

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Is insulin injection for type 1 or 2 diabetes?

The two main types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. In type 1 diabetes (which used to be called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes), the body completely stops making insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections (or use an insulin pump) to survive.

Is insulin given in type 1 diabetes?

For this reason, everyone with type 1 diabetes will require insulin. Insulin is given under the skin, either as a shot or continuously with an insulin pump. Dosing — When you are first starting insulin, it will take some time to find the right dose. A doctor or nurse will help to adjust your dose over time.

Is insulin given to type 2?

Insulin therapy is recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and an initial A1C level greater than 9 percent, or if diabetes is uncontrolled despite optimal oral glycemic therapy.

Why is insulin given in type 2 diabetes?

Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells. Inside the cells, glucose is stored and later used for energy. When you have type 2 diabetes, your fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond correctly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

What is type 1 or type 2 diabetes?

In Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn't make any insulin. In Type 2, your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, and the insulin it is making doesn't always work as it should. Both types are forms of diabetes mellitus, meaning they lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

How can type 2 diabetes be treated?

You'll usually be offered a medicine called metformin first. You may need to take extra medicines, or a different medicine such as insulin, if: treatment is not keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. you have heart problems or need to lose weight.

What is insulin injection used for?

Human insulin is used to control blood sugar in people who have type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not make insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or in people who have type 2 diabetes (condition in which the blood sugar is too high because the body does not produce or use ...

Is there an injection for type 2 diabetes?

What are the injectable medications that treat type 2 diabetes? Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are injectable medications that treat type 2 diabetes. Similar to insulin, they're injected under the skin. GLP-1 RAs are most commonly used jointly with other antidiabetic treatments.

What causes type 1 diabetes?

What causes type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes occurs when your immune system, the body's system for fighting infection, attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists think type 1 diabetes is caused by genes and environmental factors, such as viruses, that might trigger the disease.

Which insulin is best for type 1 diabetes?

RAPID-ACTING INSULIN: INSULIN LISPRO The quick action of insulin lispro makes it the ideal insulin for maintaining blood glucose levels below 180 mg per dL (10 mmol per L) for two hours after a meal, particularly when the meal contains foods that are relatively high in carbohydrates and low in fat.

What is the difference in treatment for type 1 and 2 diabetes?

Type 1 is managed by taking insulin to control your blood sugar. You can manage type 2 diabetes in more ways than type 1. These include through medication, exercise and diet. People with type 2 can also be prescribed insulin.

How does type 1 diabetes work?

When you have type 1 diabetes, your body still breaks down the carbohydrate from food and drink and turns it into glucose. But when the glucose enters your bloodstream, there's no insulin to allow it into your body's cells. More and more glucose then builds up in your bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels.

What is insulin used for?

Many types of insulin are used to treat diabetes. Although available choices may seem a bit overwhelming at first, this guide can help you discuss your treatment with your doctor. Insulin is classified by how fast and how long it works in your body.

What factors determine the best insulin for you?

Your doctor will prescribe the best insulin or insulins for you based on several factors: How active you are. The food you eat. How well you’re able to manage your blood sugar levels. Your age. How long it takes your body to absorb insulin and how long it stays active. (This is different for different people.)

How long does it take for insulin to peak?

Peaks vary. 10 to 16 hours. Combines intermediate- and short-acting insulin. Usually taken 10 to 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner. For more information about types of insulin and when to take them, talk to your doctor or diabetes educator.

Can you take insulin if you have type 1 diabetes?

If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll likely take a combination of insulins. Some people with type 2 diabetes will also need to take insulin. Different brands of insulin vary in onset, peak time, and duration, even if they’re the same type, such as rapid acting.

Where is insulin injected?

Insulin is injected subcutaneously, which means into the fat layer under the skin. In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject insulin into the fatty layer between the skin and the muscle. Insulin should be injected into the fatty tissue just below your skin. If you inject the insulin deeper into your muscle, ...

What is the function of insulin in diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone that helps cells use glucose (sugar) for energy. It works as a “key,” allowing the sugar to go from the blood and into the cell. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t make insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin correctly, which can lead to the pancreas not being able to produce enough — or any, ...

How to inject a syringe?

Follow these tips for more comfortable and effective injections: 1 You can numb your skin with an ice cube for a couple of minutes before swabbing it with alcohol. 2 When using an alcohol swab, wait for the alcohol to dry before injecting yourself. It may sting less. 3 Avoid injecting in the roots of body hair. 4 Ask your doctor for a chart to keep track of your injection sites.

How to make insulin not cloudy?

If the insulin is cloudy, mix the contents by rolling the vial between your hands for a few seconds. Be careful not to shake the vial. Short-acting insulin that isn’t mixed with other insulin shouldn’t be cloudy. Don’t use insulin that is grainy, thickened, or discolored. Follow these steps for safe and proper injection:

Why is it important to rotate the insulin site?

People who take insulin daily should rotate their injection sites. This is important because using the same spot over time can cause lipodystrophy.

How long is an insulin needle?

Traditionally, needles used in insulin therapy were 12.7 millimeters (mm) in length. Recent research. shows that smaller 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm needles are just as effective, regardless of body mass. This means insulin injection is less painful than it was in the past.

How to get rid of bubbles in a syringe?

If there are bubbles in the syringe, tap it gently so the bubbles rise to the top. Push the syringe to release the bubbles back into the vial. Pull the plunger down again until you reach the correct dose.

Where is insulin injected?

The insulin is injected into the layer of fat (subcutaneous tissue) just under the skin. (Rarely, insulin may be injected into a muscle. This should happen only under a medical supervision in a hospital or medical care setting.)

What is the most common way to deliver insulin?

Injection and infusion are the two ways to deliver insulin. Injection is the most common, and infusion is the most the most sophisticated.

How long does an insulin pump last?

These are small, computerized devices that are programmed to deliver insulin under the skin. The insulin pump is durable and lasts for years, but the insulin supply and certain pump components (insulin reservoir, tubing and infusion set) are changed every few days.

How many units of insulin can be delivered in a syringe?

The classic injection device is an insulin syringe. The plastic, disposable syringes currently are available in three sizes, and hold up to 30, 50 or 100 units of insulin.

Why is insulin added to intravenous fluids?

The intravenous route of delivery is ONLY given under a doctor’s orders in a hospital to facilitate the management of diabetes during surgery or an intensive care stay.

What is the alternative to a syringe?

A popular alternative to the insulin syringe is an insulin pen. An insulin pen has a replaceable reservoir of insulin called a cartridge, a replaceable needle to puncture the skin and to deliver insulin to the subcutaneous tissue, a dial to choose the insulin dose, and a mechanical pumping or insulin release mechanism.

What is the name of the drug that is used to treat type 2 diabetes?

Currently, there are several GLP-1 RAs on the market that differ by dosing schedule and duration of action. They include: semaglutide (Ozempic) — also available in tablet form (Rybelsus) Pramlintide (S ymlin) is another injectable drug approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

What is the best medication for type 2 diabetes?

semaglutide (Ozempic) — also available in tablet form (Rybelsus) Pramlintide (Symlin) is another injectable drug approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It’s used in conjunction with mealtime insulin shots. Though less commonly used, it works similarly to GLP-1 RAs.

What is the best treatment for obesity?

exercise. use of other medications. Because of this, GLP-1 RAs are well suited for people who are overweight or have obesity. They’re often used in combination with other drugs or insulin to mitigate weight gain.

What is the diabetes plate method?

The diabetes plate method is commonly used for providing basic meal planning guidance and for its visual help. Seeing a registered dietitian may also help lead you to a healthier diet. A dietitian can recommend an individualized nutrition plan that accounts for your specific factors and preferences.

Do injectables cause weight gain?

Weight gain? Unlike insulin and other antidiabetic drugs, injectables don ’t cause weight gain. Because they decrease appetite, they may even contribute to weight loss in the range of 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) to 6.6 pounds (3 kg). The amount of weight loss depends on multiple factors, such as: diet. exercise.

Can exenatide cause hypoglycemia?

Some people using exenatide (Bydureon, Byetta) have reported this side effect. Hypoglycemia rarely occurs with GLP-1 RAs when used alone. However, adding them to insulin-based therapies can increase risk. In rodent studies, there was an increase in medullary thyroid tumors.

Treatment Delays and Barriers

Patient and clinician factors contribute to delays in adding insulin to treatment regimens or in transitioning from oral antidiabetic agents (OADs) to insulin.

Advanced Basal Insulin Analogs and Fixed-Ratio Combinations

Advanced insulin analogs and pre-filled pen delivery devices are helping to overcome some of the barriers to insulin initiation and titration experienced by some patients and PCPs.

Current Guidelines for Insulin Initiation and Titration

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends initiation of basal insulin at 10 units/day or 0.1–0.2 units/kg/day, adjusted by 10–15% or 2–4 units once or twice weekly to reach a target fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in patients whose A1C remains uncontrolled after >3 months of triple combination therapy, whose A1C is >10%, whose blood glucose is >300 mg/dL, or who are symptomatic of hyperglycemia ( 37 ).

Insulin Titration Algorithms

A number of titration algorithms have been evaluated that aim to simplify insulin titration and enable patient empowerment through self-titration to effectively participate in the management of their disease ( 4, 39 – 42 ), the details of which are summarized in Table 1.

When Too Much Insulin Has Little Effect on Glycemic Target

Current use of basal insulin has been shaped by treat-to-target trials that have emphasized systematically titrating the insulin dose without limit until an FPG of 100–130 mg/dL is reached ( 50 ). “Overbasalization” is said to occur when FPG is uncontrolled despite uptitration of basal insulin and the A1C target remains unmet ( 51 ).

Managing Insulin Regimens in the Primary Care Setting

It is important to gain an understanding of a patient’s background and lifestyle before initiating insulin to ensure that the treatment regimen takes into account the patient’s needs and preferences as well as clinical characteristics ( 37, 56, 57 ).

Conclusion

Multiple insulin algorithms have been developed to help PCPs with insulin initiation and titration and to enable patient self-management.

When is insulin taken?

The usual treatment schedule is: The long acting insulin is typically taken at bedtime and/or morning. Nutritional insulin is taken before each meal, based on how many carbohydrates are in the meal, ...

What is correctional insulin?

Correctional insulin corrects high blood glucose before meals. Similar to nutritional insulin. Similar to nutritional insulin. Most patients with type 1 diabetes are treated with “intensive” or “basal-bolus” insulin therapy, which requires four injections a day. This method allows a great deal of flexibility with regards to the types ...

Can you produce insulin on your own?

Type 1 diabetes completely damages the pancreas, an organ responsible for making insulin. For that reason, persons with type 1 diabetes cannot produce any insulin on their own. Every patient with type 1 diabetes depends on injections of insulin so that glucose can be used as energy in the body.

Is insulin taken before or after a meal?

Nutritional insulin is taken before each meal, based on how many carbohydrates are in the meal, in addition to correctional insulin which is based on the blood glucose reading before the meal. Meeting with a dietitian can help patients learn carbohydrate counting, with specific dosing recommendations from the health care provider.

Who can teach you how to measure insulin?

If your health care provider prescribes insulin, a trained diabetes educator or pharmacist can teach you how to measure out the proper dose and administer your daily injections.

Is insulin a treatment for type 2 diabetes?

Insulin Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes. The decision to take insulin is never an easy one. For many patients, it comes after years of having type 2 diabetes and trying multiple weight-loss regimens, diets, and oral medications. For other patients, the decision to take insulin is made when blood glucose levels are simply too high to control ...

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