Diabetes Guide – How to Inject and Use Insulin
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness that is characterized by abnormal blood glucose or sugar levels. The abnormal levels occur due to the insufficient, defective, or no production of insulin in the body. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and help in regulating the blood sugar levels.
There are two types of diabetes. The first one is diabetes type 1, which is characterized by defective or insufficient insulin in the body and the second one is diabetes type 2, in which the body develops an insulin resistance. Insulin therapy, which involves injecting insulin into the body, is mostly recommended for people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes patients may also opt for the treatment when all other methods to regulate blood glucose levels do not help.
The insulin used as a part of the insulin therapy is of different types. It varies in terms of how immediate the effect is and for how long the effect stays. There are also different ways of injecting the insulin. Here is a diabetes guide on how to inject and use insulin.
The needle and injection have come a long way and now injecting insulin into one’s body is not as painful as it used to be. However, it may not be so pleasant for patients who are absolutely terrified of needles. The insulin can be injected using injections, insulin pens, or insulin pumps for those who need insulin continuously pumped into their body.
If you have diabetes and have been advised by the doctor to undergo insulin therapy, then there are certain lifestyle changes you may need to make. Even if you do not need insulin therapy, there is still a need for such changes for patients with diabetes. Some of these changes are:
- Healthy diet
- Regular exercise
- Weight management
- Getting regular blood tests done to monitor blood glucose levels
Apart from these changes, patients should ensure that a strict insulin regimen is followed to avoid any complications arising from diabetes. Ensure that you always have an insulin kit ready. This kit should include an insulin pen/syringe, ample insulin doses, a new pen/syringe and cotton or tissue. It is also a good idea to let the people you work with or live with know where the kit is kept in the home or office.
The insulin is supposed to be injected into the fat layer beneath the skin. The abdomen is the most commonly injected site in insulin therapies. However, if the abdomen is not suitable, patients may inject the insulin in other parts like upper arms, upper buttocks, and on the outer thigh as well. All these areas have ample fat to absorb the insulin. Not just that, it is less painful to inject in these areas as there are not many nerve endings present.
Before you start injecting yourself with the insulin, make sure you understand all the dos and don’ts of the regime. It is beneficial to consult a doctor as they may advise you about which area would be more suitable for the injection.
