Different types of insulin are available for people with diabetes. If you need insulin, you and your diabetes team will look at the options and decide which type fits best with your lifestyle and blood glucose (sugar) patterns. INSULIN
Types of insulin When you talk to your diabetes team about insulin, they will explain that there are two aspects of blood glucose control. When you have a meal, your blood glucose goes up, so you need insulin to help your body cope with this. But there is also a background level of blood glucose that needs to be controlled between meals. The main types of insulin are described in the table below. They have been designed to control one or both the meal-time and background blood glucose levels. You may have to take a combination of insulins to give you good 24-hour control. Keep a note of the insulin you re prescribed and your target blood glucose levels, in the spaces provided. Your blood glucose levels Your fasting blood glucose should be: 1-2 hours after food, your blood glucose should be: Types of insulin Basal Insulin Rapid acting Insulin Short acting Insulin Insulin mixture This is a background insulin and is taken either once or twice a day and will work all day. This is insulin you take when you eat (or just before) and works quickly to help you absorb the carbohydrates in the food. Works slower than rapid acting insulin and needs to be taken about half an hour before eating. This is a combination of insulin that works when you eat and background insulin that works through the day. Keep your spare insulin in a refrigerator, but don t let it freeze. Insulin that is in use should be kept at room temperature.
Your insulin Your insulin is: Brand Name (1): Brand Name (2): Manufacturer (1): Manufacturer (2): Type Of Insulin (1): Type Of Insulin (2): You need to take it: (1): (2): Never stop taking your insulin without discussing it with your diabetes team Taking your insulin At the moment, insulin needs to be injected. It is not available in tablet form because the stomach would digest it before it got into the bloodstream and started working. Depending on the type of insulin you need and your preference, your insulin may be available in: a prefilled pen device (with a needle) that is filled with insulin and discarded when empty a refillable pen device (with needles) that takes replaceable cartridges when empty a syringe with a needle that you fill with insulin from a vial (or bottle) pumps
Insulin pens are very convenient and popular because they are more discreet and portable than syringes and vials, making them easier to administer. Some people have a continuous supply of insulin delivered into their body from an insulin pump. Injection sites For the best insulin absorption, you should inject into the fatty tissue just under the skin in the areas shown in the illustration. It s important to use different sites in a rotation system to prevent what s known as lipohypertrophy. This is where an area bulges because fat has accumulated. It happens if you overuse an injection site. If you carry on injecting into an area of lipohypertrophy, the insulin isn t absorbed very efficiently and your glucose control will be affected. Your diabetes team will teach you more about rotating your injections, how to use your insulin delivery device and what to do with the needles after using them. Also, ask them to check your injection sites for signs of lipohypertrophy at your annual review. Sometimes an injection site becomes bruised or bleeds - this happens to everyone occasionally.
Adjusting insulin Your insulin requirement will change throughout your life, depending on what you eat, how you exercise, illnesses, climate, work, social activity, and your circumstances. Your diabetes team will advise you how to prepare for these changes by adjusting your meals or your insulin. Sometimes your blood glucose will go high or low for no reason. If this happens, don t adjust your insulin. But if you re having trouble keeping your glucose levels near to your target, talk to your diabetes team. They will advise you how to make changes to improve your glucose control. If you forget to take your insulin Your diabetes team will agree a plan with you, detailing what you should do if you forget to take your insulin. However, if you are unsure, speak to your team. Your diabetes team A diabetes team is a group of healthcare professionals with specialist knowledge and experience of supporting people with diabetes. For example, teams may include diabetologist / endocrinologists (hospital specialists who deal with hormone disorders such as diabetes), family doctors, specialist diabetes nurses, dieticians, ophthalmologists (for specialist eye care) and podiatrists (for foot care).
Other information Other leaflets in this series include specific explanations of some of the terms used here. Leaflets on blood testing, hypos, travel, impact on sexual health, driving and employment, illness, and complications may be particularly helpful for you. Ask your diabetes team for the ones you want. www.lillydiabetes.co.uk/patients Further information is available from Contact numbers and notes Eli Lilly and Company Limited Lilly House Priestley Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 9NL Tel: (01256) 315000 Provided as a service for patient care UKDBT01184b(1) March 2016