April 7'2020
Insulin is a hormone made in your pancreas, a gland located behind your stomach. It allows your body to use glucose for energy. Glucose is a type of sugar found in many carbohydrates.
After a meal or snack, the digestive tract breaks down carbohydrates and changes them into glucose. Glucose is then absorbed into your bloodstream through the lining in your small intestine. Once glucose is in your bloodstream, insulin causes cells throughout your body to absorb the sugar and use it for energy.
Insulin also helps balance your blood glucose levels. When there’s too much glucose in your bloodstream, insulin signals your body to store the excess in your liver. The stored glucose isn’t released until your blood glucose levels decrease, such as between meals or when your body is stressed or needs an extra boost of energy.
After a meal or snack, the digestive tract breaks down carbohydrates and changes them into glucose. Glucose is then absorbed into your bloodstream through the lining in your small intestine. Once glucose is in your bloodstream, insulin causes cells throughout your body to absorb the sugar and use it for energy.
Insulin also helps balance your blood glucose levels. When there’s too much glucose in your bloodstream, insulin signals your body to store the excess in your liver. The stored glucose isn’t released until your blood glucose levels decrease, such as between meals or when your body is stressed or needs an extra boost of energy.
Understanding diabetes
Diabetes occurs when your body doesn't use insulin properly or doesn't make enough insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
Diabetes occurs when your body doesn't use insulin properly or doesn't make enough insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease. These are diseases that cause the body to attack itself. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make insulin. This is because your immune system has destroyed all the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. This disease is more commonly diagnosed in young people, although it can develop in adulthood.
In type 2 diabetes, your body has become resistant to the effects of insulin. This means your body needs more insulin to get the same effects. Therefore, your body overproduces insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal. However, after many years of overproduction, the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas burn out. Type 2 diabetes affects people of any age, but typically develops later in life.
Type 1 diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease. These are diseases that cause the body to attack itself. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make insulin. This is because your immune system has destroyed all the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. This disease is more commonly diagnosed in young people, although it can develop in adulthood.
In type 2 diabetes, your body has become resistant to the effects of insulin. This means your body needs more insulin to get the same effects. Therefore, your body overproduces insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal. However, after many years of overproduction, the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas burn out. Type 2 diabetes affects people of any age, but typically develops later in life.
Insulin as treatment for diabetes
Injections of insulin can help treat both types of diabetes. The injected insulin acts as a replacement for or supplement to your body’s insulin. People with type 1 diabetes can’t make insulin, so they must inject insulin to control their blood glucose levels.
Injections of insulin can help treat both types of diabetes. The injected insulin acts as a replacement for or supplement to your body’s insulin. People with type 1 diabetes can’t make insulin, so they must inject insulin to control their blood glucose levels.
Many people with type 2 diabetes can manage their blood glucose levels with lifestyle changes and oral medication. However, if these treatments don’t help to control glucose levels, people with the condition may also need insulin to help control their blood glucose levels.
Many people with type 2 diabetes can manage their blood glucose levels with lifestyle changes and oral medication. However, if these treatments don’t help to control glucose levels, people with the condition may also need insulin to help control their blood glucose levels.
All types of insulin produce the same effect. They mimic the natural increases and decreases of insulin levels in the body during the day. The makeup of different types of insulin affects how fast and for how long they work.
- Rapid-acting insulin: This type of insulin begins working approximately 15 minutes after injection. Its effects can last between three and four hours. It's often used before a meal.
- Short-acting insulin: You inject this insulin before a meal. It starts working 30 to 60 minutes after you inject it and lasts five to eight hours.
- Intermediate-acting insulin: This type of insulin starts working in one to two hours after injection, and its effects may last 14 to 16 hours.
- Long-acting insulin: This insulin may not start working until about two hours after you inject it. Its effects can last up to 24 hours or longer.
All types of insulin produce the same effect. They mimic the natural increases and decreases of insulin levels in the body during the day. The makeup of different types of insulin affects how fast and for how long they work.
- Rapid-acting insulin: This type of insulin begins working approximately 15 minutes after injection. Its effects can last between three and four hours. It's often used before a meal.
- Short-acting insulin: You inject this insulin before a meal. It starts working 30 to 60 minutes after you inject it and lasts five to eight hours.
- Intermediate-acting insulin: This type of insulin starts working in one to two hours after injection, and its effects may last 14 to 16 hours.
- Long-acting insulin: This insulin may not start working until about two hours after you inject it. Its effects can last up to 24 hours or longer.
You can’t take insulin by mouth. You must inject it with a syringe, insulin pen, or insulin pump. The type of insulin injection you use will be based on your personal preference, health needs, and insurance coverage.
Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to give yourself the injections. You can inject the insulin under the skin in many different parts of your body, such as:
- thighs
- buttocks
- upper arms
- abdomen
Don’t inject insulin within two inches of your belly button because your body won’t absorb it as well. You should vary the location of injections to prevent the thickening of your skin from constant insulin exposure.
Insulin use varies by person according to their blood glucose levels and diabetes management goals. Your doctor may instruct you to give yourself insulin 60 minutes before a meal or just before eating. The amount of insulin you'll need on a daily basis depends on factors such as your diet, level of physical activity, and severity of your diabetes.
Some people only need one insulin shot per day. Others need three or four. Your doctor may also have you use both rapid-acting insulin and long-acting insulin.
Insulin reactions
You can’t take insulin by mouth. You must inject it with a syringe, insulin pen, or insulin pump. The type of insulin injection you use will be based on your personal preference, health needs, and insurance coverage.
Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to give yourself the injections. You can inject the insulin under the skin in many different parts of your body, such as:
- thighs
- buttocks
- upper arms
- abdomen
Don’t inject insulin within two inches of your belly button because your body won’t absorb it as well. You should vary the location of injections to prevent the thickening of your skin from constant insulin exposure.
Insulin use varies by person according to their blood glucose levels and diabetes management goals. Your doctor may instruct you to give yourself insulin 60 minutes before a meal or just before eating. The amount of insulin you'll need on a daily basis depends on factors such as your diet, level of physical activity, and severity of your diabetes.
Some people only need one insulin shot per day. Others need three or four. Your doctor may also have you use both rapid-acting insulin and long-acting insulin.
Insulin reactions
Hypoglycemia, or blood glucose levels that are too low, can sometimes happen when you take insulin. This is called an insulin reaction. If you exercise too much or don't eat enough, your glucose level can drop too low and trigger an insulin reaction. You need to balance the insulin that you give yourself with food or calories. Symptoms of insulin reactions include:
- tiredness
- inability to speak
- sweating
- confusion
- loss of consciousness
- seizures
- muscle twitching
- pale skin
Hypoglycemia, or blood glucose levels that are too low, can sometimes happen when you take insulin. This is called an insulin reaction. If you exercise too much or don't eat enough, your glucose level can drop too low and trigger an insulin reaction. You need to balance the insulin that you give yourself with food or calories. Symptoms of insulin reactions include:
- tiredness
- inability to speak
- sweating
- confusion
- loss of consciousness
- seizures
- muscle twitching
- pale skin
Treatment | Treatment
To stop the effects of an insulin reaction, carry at least 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate with you at all times. That’s about equal to any of the following:
- 1/2 cup of non-diet soda
- 1/2 cup of fruit juice
- 5 Lifesaver candies
- 2 tablespoons of raisins
Also, ask your doctor about a special pen called a glucagon pen. It can help resolve an insulin reaction.
To stop the effects of an insulin reaction, carry at least 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate with you at all times. That’s about equal to any of the following:
- 1/2 cup of non-diet soda
- 1/2 cup of fruit juice
- 5 Lifesaver candies
- 2 tablespoons of raisins
Also, ask your doctor about a special pen called a glucagon pen. It can help resolve an insulin reaction.
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