InsulinInsulin treatment is required for people with type 1 diabetes to live. Insulin treatment is commonly required for patients with type 2 or gestational diabetes as well.
Your doctor may prescribe a combination of insulin types to use during the day and night, depending on your needs. Different types of insulin are categorized by how quickly they begin to work and how long their effects last:
- Rapid-acting insulin starts working within 15 minutes of injection and lasts between 3-4 hours.
- Short-acting insulin starts working within 30 minutes of injection and lasts between 6-8 hours.
- Intermediate insulin starts working within 1-2 hours and lasts between 12-18 hours.
- Long-acting insulin starts working within several hours and lasts 24 hours or longer
Insulin cannot be given orally because the stomach’s enzymes affect how insulin is broken down. Because of this, insulin is commonly administered with a tiny needle and syringe or an insulin pen.
An insulin pump may be a viable alternative. The pump is a tiny device that is worn on the exterior of your body and is roughly the size of a cell phone. A tube links the insulin reservoir to a catheter placed beneath your abdomen's skin. An insulin pump is programmed to deliver particular quantities of insulin. Depending on food intake, activity levels, and blood sugar levels, it may be modified to administer more or less insulin as needed.
MedicationsIn some cases, oral or injectable medicines may be prescribed. Some diabetes drugs work by increasing the amount of insulin your body produces. Others (such as Metformin) reduce the amount of glucose produced by your liver, which reduces the amount of insulin needed to transfer sugar into your cells.