Treatment
Your healthcare team will create a diabetes treatment plan for you that may include insulin, oral medications or both. Many people need to take diabetes medicine to keep their blood sugar near normal.
If you have type 1 diabetes, your treatment plan will include a balanced meal plan, exercise and insulin injections. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may eventually require insulin injections, but will probably start with a healthy meal plan, exercise and, possibly, oral medications. Women with gestational diabetes may need insulin injections, but most often treat their diabetes with a balanced meal plan and regular exercise.
Insulin and oral medication are available by prescription only. You should talk to your healthcare professional about which medication may be right for you and what side effects, if any, it may have.
Oral medications
People with type 2 diabetes are often able to manage their blood glucose levels through a diet and exercise plan. However, some people may also need medication to help control their blood glucose levels. In fact, several different medications may be needed because each works a different way. Contact your healthcare professional to learn what is appropriate for your specific treatment.
What's your dose?
You need to test your blood glucose levels to know for sure. Learn more about Bayer testing products.
Insulin
Thanks to Kate Ayres and Pam McConnell for the following information from their diabetes management guide, You Are NOT Alone.
There are many types of insulin available. You may need only one or you may have to take different types, either mixed together in a syringe or pen, or given as two separate injections.
You also need to keep in mind how your insulin works:
| Type of Insulin | Time to Action | Peak Action | Length of Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid-acting (lispro or aspart insulin) | 10 to 15 minutes | 60 to 90 minutes | 4 to 5 hours |
| Short-acting* (regular) | 30 minutes to 1 hour | 2 to 4 hours | 5 to 8 hours |
| Intermediate-acting (NPH, lente) | 1 to 3 hours | 5 to 8 hours | up to 18 hours |
| Long-acting (Ultralente) | 3 to 4 hours | 8 to 15 hours | 22 to 26 hours |
Source: 2003 CDA Guidelines
*Short-acting is referred to as Fast Acting in the 2003 CDA Guidelines.
Tips
- Take your insulin daily, as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking your insulin when you are sick, unless your doctor tells you to. Your insulin dose may change when you're sick, injured, have an infection or are emotionally distressed. During these times, test your blood glucose frequently and call your doctor or diabetes educator for needed insulin changes.
- Follow your doctor's instructions when changing insulin doses.
- Before opening an insulin bottle, check the expiry date. Once opened, an insulin bottle or cartridge is good for one month.
- Before taking insulin, check the vials for frosty rings around the neck, clumping of particles or insulin that won't mix. Do not use the insulin if it displays any of these characteristics.
- Do not change the brand of insulin you are using without asking your doctor.
- Keep the bottle of insulin you are using at room temperature, and a spare bottle in the fridge. Do not expose insulin to extreme heat or cold.
- Insulin injections are more comfortable when the insulin is at room temperature.
- If using a syringe and mixing short and intermediate acting insulins, the short-acting* insulin should be drawn up first.
- Rapid-acting insulin should be administered zero to 15 minutes before eating. Short-acting* insulin should be administered 30 to 45 minutes before eating.
- Rapid acting insulin should not be mixed in a syringe with intermediate or long acting insulin.
- Long acting insulin must not be mixed with any other insulin.
- Have a glucagon kit available in case you have severe low blood glucose and become unconscious. Glucagon, available by prescription only, is injected to make the liver release glucose to raise your blood glucose. Family members should know how to use it.
You can learn more and find useful tools to better manage your diabetes in our Bayer Care program - enroll now.
Source: "You Are NOT Alone" by Kate Ayres and Pam McConnell.