Insulin
All people with type 1 diabetes and many people with type 2 diabetes take insulin to replace the insulin they no longer make on their own.
The most common way to get insulin into your body is to inject it with an insulin pen, syringe, or insulin pump. You can't take insulin by mouth because it would be digested in the stomach. Some people don't like the idea of injections, but the needles used now are short, very fine, which makes injecting more comfortable.
In people without diabetes insulin made by the body rises to match the glucose rise in the blood after a meal or snack. Blood glucose is usually highest about an hour after a meal. High blood glucose levels tell the body to release insulin into the bloodstream to help the glucose get into the cells.
Types of insulin
It's best to help keep your blood glucose levels in your target range. You may take one or two different types of insulin. The types of insulin differ in their onset of action (when they start to work), their time of peak action (when they are working the most to control blood glucose levels), and their duration of action in the body (how long they work).
There are several types of insulin: rapid-acting or short-acting is usually taken before meals. Intermediate or long-acting is usually taken at supper or bedtime. Some types of premixed insulin provide rapid-acting and intermediate-acting in a single dose. This type of insulin is usually taken before breakfast, before the evening meal, or at both times.
Talk with your healthcare provider or diabetes-care team to determine which insulin is right for you. Because we are all different, it may take a while to find your correct type and dose.
