Insulin Treatment

Insulin is a natural hormone made in your pancreas. It moves sugar (blood glucose) from your blood into your cells. If your body cannot generate its own insulin, it may be necessary to take insulin in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. In these cases, insulin must be placed into the bloodstream. Insulin can be injected by a syringe or a pen. Insulin cannot be taken in pill form because the acids in the stomach break it down.

There are a variety of insulin types, brands and sources. Healthcare professionals often prescribe 2 types of insulin: mealtime insulin and background insulin. Mealtime insulin (bolus) is used to control after-meal blood sugar. Background insulin (basal) is used to meet your needs throughout the day and night.

Insulin Characteristics

By observing how the insulin you use affects your blood sugar levels, you may better monitor your blood sugar levels. Each type of insulin has 3 characteristics:¹

• Start, or onset—how long it usually takes for insulin to start working.
• Peak—the time when the insulin is working hardest.
• Duration—how long the insulin usually stays in your body.

Make a point of knowing the characteristics of the insulin(s) you use and understand how they affect your blood sugar levels.

Insulin Delivery Methods

Because people with type 1 diabetes do not produce their own insulin, they need to supply their bodies with insulin from an outside source. There are currently 3 main insulin delivery methods:

• Shots, or injections, are the most common way people with diabetes deliver insulin to their bodies. It involves drawing insulin from a bottle into a syringe and injecting it into the body.
• Insulin pens offer a different method of injection. They look like writing pens and are prefilled with insulin. The user dials a dose of insulin from a cartridge in the pen.