Insulin detemir is prescribed as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not properly process food into energy. When we eat food (particularly carbs) the body turns it into glucose (sugar), the substance our body uses as energy. Central to this process is insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas to help cells absorb glucose. In people with diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or uses it inefficiently. This causes the blood sugar, or blood glucose levels, to either get too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. It occurs when your body attacks your pancreas with antibodies causing the organ to stop producing insulin. Unlike type 2 diabetes, which can be caused by obesity, lack of exercise, and other risk factors, type 1 diabetes has no common cause. It commonly appears during childhood and has no cure – although genetics and environment are thought to play a role in its development. If left untreated and unmanaged, diabetes can cause serious – potentially life-threatening – complications.
Possible complications caused by diabetes include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney disease
- Eye damage
- Nerve damage
- Foot problems
- Skin conditions
It’s important to note that type 1 diabetes cannot be cured. Insulin detemir is prescribed to individuals diagnosed with diabetes to help them manage the disease.