It can be frustrating when you have to add insulin to your treatment plan to manage diabetes. But know that many people with diabetes need to make changes to their treatment plan at some point. There are benefits to this. For instance, taking insulin can make it easier to manage your blood sugar. And it can prevent problems from diabetes.
Why do you need insulin now?
Diabetes changes over time. When you first get type 2 diabetes, your pancreas is often making plenty of insulin. But your body can't use the insulin that is made. This is called insulin resistance. It can lead to a buildup of sugar (glucose) in the blood. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight loss may help. When these steps aren't enough, diabetes pills can often help. They can reduce insulin resistance. Or they can increase the insulin the body makes.
But after a few years, things can change. Over time the pancreas may make less and less insulin. Insulin resistance may also get worse. You may be eating right, exercising regularly, and taking your diabetes pills. But it can still be harder to reach your blood sugar goals. At this point, your doctor may switch you to a different pill or suggest an injection of another medicine. Or you may need to take more than one type. You may need to take insulin shots. These shots replace the insulin that your pancreas is no longer making enough of.
What should you know about insulin?
There are different types of insulin. These include long-acting, intermediate-acting, regular- or short-acting, and rapid-acting. Your doctor will work with you to choose the insulin that's right for you. They will show you how to inject it and how to store it. You may need to take more than one shot each day to reach your blood sugar goals. A new form of inhaled insulin is now available for quick doses before meals. But it must be used along with injectable long-acting insulin if you have type 2 diabetes and need long-acting insulin.
The insulin will lower your blood sugar. How quickly this happens depends on the type of insulin. And it depends on where on your body you inject it. Your doctor will work with you so that you know how much insulin to take. And your doctor will tell you how close to a meal or snack you should take it.
Once you start taking insulin, you may still need to take diabetes pills. Be sure to stick with your healthy diet and get exercise on most days. Your medicine, diet, and exercise all work together to keep your blood sugar controlled. And they help keep you at your healthy best.
Taking insulin is a big change. It can feel confusing when major changes like this are made to your diabetes management plan. Talk with your doctor. You may be able to receive your insulin through an automated system like an insulin pump. Ask your doctor about diabetes education programs. Also ask about finding a diabetes nurse educator or a diabetes support group. It can be helpful to see a trusted professional. And it can help to have support from people dealing with the same issues. It can make adjusting to a new treatment plan easier.
