You will most likely be surprised to find out that the shorter, finer needles in prefilled disposable insulin pens make insulin injections practically pain free. Ask your doctor if a prefilled disposable insulin pen might be right for you. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens and about one type of needle that is practically pain free.

Be sure to rotate the sites where you inject the insulin. This can go a long way toward preventing bruising and changes in your skin that can make it harder to inject.

Prefilled disposable insulin pens offer simple, adjustable dosing in an easy-to-carry, discreet, pen-like delivery system. Talk with your doctor about whether an insulin pen might be right for you, or visit NovoNordiskCare.com to see an online demo of insulin pens from Novo Nordisk.

If you take a long-acting insulin at bedtime, it can help to link taking your insulin with something you already do at bedtime. Many people find that keeping their insulin with their toothbrush is a helpful reminder.

If you find it hard to remember to take your regular (short-acting) insulin 30 minutes before meals, talk with your doctor to see if a rapid- acting insulin analog would be a good option for you. Rapid-acting insulin analogs work fast. They allow you to take your insulin and eat within 5 to 10 minutes of injecting. You don’t have to wait the 30 minutes required with regular insulin. Learn more about Novo Nordisk rapid-acting insulin.

There are many ways you can take insulin. If you are having a hard time following your current plan, talk with your doctor to see if there is another plan that would work better for you and your lifestyle.

When a change in your medicine is suggested, it can seem upsetting or stressful. First, you may worry that your diabetes is getting worse. Second, you may feel as though you have failed in your efforts to keep things under control. These are commonly held beliefs, but here is the good news – neither is true.

It is important to realize that type 2 diabetes is a disease that changes over time, even if you do everything right. Most people with type 2 diabetes, even if they follow their diabetes care plans closely, will eventually need more medicine, an injectable medicine such as insulin. When this happens, don’t think the change has occurred because you did something wrong. This is just the nature of type 2 diabetes. And the more medicine you take does not mean you are sicker. It just means you need something different to help keep you healthy. The most important thing you can do is to work on accepting this change in treatment. You can start by learning what you need to know about making these new medicines a part of your new daily routine.

Ask your doctor or diabetes care team questions until you are sure you understand what it is you need to do and how to do it. Be sure to ask them for materials you can read at home.

People who have had diabetes for a while and have not effectively managed their blood sugar are at a greater risk for serious health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and amputations. Sometimes people link insulin to these health problems when it was the long-term uncontrolled blood sugar levels that probably led to these problems, not insulin. Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible can help reduce your risk of health problems from diabetes. When you take insulin according to your diabetes care plan, it is a safe and effective way of treating your diabetes.

The most common side effect of insulin therapy is low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Although severe low blood sugar is rare, it is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes generally experience severe low blood sugar less often, even when taking insulin. Checking your blood sugar often can help you avoid low blood sugar. Knowing the warning signs of low blood sugar and treating it quickly can help you avoid severe low blood sugar.

Prefilled disposable insulin pens are covered by many insurance plans. For reimbursement assistance for Novo Nordisk products, please call 1-877-NOVO-777 (1-877-668-6777).

Novo Nordisk has a Patient Assistance program (PAP). The Diabetes PAP provides free medicine to those who qualify. To see if you qualify, call 1-866-310-7549, or read the guidelines and print an application at NovoNordisk-us.com.

A good way to make sure that you take your insulin the right way is to have a written plan on when, how much, and how to take it. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator to write everything down for you. Keep these directions near your insulin.

Ask your doctor or diabetes care team questions until you are sure you understand what it is you need to do and how to do it. Be sure to ask them for materials you can read at home.

Sometimes feeling doubt is a way of coping with the news that you need to take insulin. Talk with your doctor about why you need to change over to insulin therapy and what to expect from it.

You can also read about insulin in the medicine section of this website.

In most cases, you can continue to take part in the activities you enjoyed before you started insulin therapy. You just may need to check your blood sugar more frequently and add some snacks to make sure your blood sugar stays as close to normal as possible. Talk with your doctor about specific activities you want to do.

As of 2007, nearly 18 million people in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes. Almost 1 in 3 take insulin.

Even though there is no reason to feel embarrassed about taking insulin, it is a common feeling, especially when you first start insulin therapy. To help you overcome this barrier, ask your doctor if a prefilled disposable insulin pen might be right for you instead of a syringe. Insulin pens fit in your pocket or purse, making them discreet and easy to carry. Their quick, adjustable dosing making injecting insulin easy. Learn more about several types of prefilled disposable insulin pens.