The most common side effect of insulin therapy is low blood sugar. This can be very serious if not recognized and treated right away. Checking your blood sugar frequently can help you avoid low blood sugar. People on insulin therapy should have a glucagon emergency kit available. Glucagon is a medicine that can be injected quickly. It raises your blood sugar when it falls too low and you pass out. Learn more about Novo Nordisk glucagon emergency kit. Other side effects of insulin therapy can include redness, swelling, or itching at the site of injection. Contact your doctor if you have any irritation at your injection site or if you frequently have low blood sugar.

Some people may not have any signs of low blood sugar before they have a problem. That is another reason why regular blood sugar checks are important

No, insulin therapy does not cause blindness. In fact, if blood sugar levels are kept in a good range, blindness can often be prevented. High blood sugar levels over time can lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy. This is a condition of the eyes that, if left unchecked, can lead to blindness.

No. Insulin does not cause other health problems. When insulin is taken according to your diabetes care plan, it can be a safe and effective way of treating your diabetes. Unfortunately, there are 6.2 million Americans who have diabetes but don't yet know it. These people and those whose diabetes is not well managed are at risk for serious diabetes-related health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and problems with their blood vessels and nerves. These conditions can become life-threatening. Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible can help to reduce your risk for developing other health problems.

Yes. You should continue your insulin therapy even if you are not feeling well and not eating your usual foods. Talk with your doctor about the need to adjust your insulin on sick days. With the help of your doctor, make a sick day action plan. This plan will remind you of valuable information at a time when you are not feeling your best. Your plan of action should include:

• When to call your doctor
• Contact information for your doctor (including nights and weekends)
• When to check your blood sugar level and ketones
• Changes to your medicines
• Foods and fluids to consume
• Special instructions for taking over-the-counter medicines

It's helpful to make a list of questions to review with your doctor. Remember to leave some room after each of your questions to write down the answer for future reference. Some questions you may want to include are:

• When was the last time my A1C was tested? What was my result and what does it mean? How often should this test be done?
• How often should I check my blood suger levels at home?
• What are my target blood sugar levels?
• When was the last time I had a lipid (blood cholesterol and fat) profile? What were my results and what do they mean? How often should this test be done?
• What is my blood pressure? Is it okay? If not, what should I be doing?
• What meal plan should I follow?
• How can I reduce my risk for diabetes-related health problems?