A Guide to Insulin Use For Diabetics
You just received the news that your health practitioner is adding insulin to your diabetes treatment plan. The use of insulin to control your diabetes can often be a little puzzling and menacing. It doesn't have to be. Using insulin is a positive experience as it helps you to control your diabetes.
The first thing to remember is that insulin isn't a punishment in any form. If you are using insulin, it's often because insulin is absent from your body, or your body still makes insulin but it is not enough. Often oral meds are no longer working, so insulin is added to your treatment plan. Your doctor will discuss your dosing wants with you.
Insulin injections are zip to be scared of, even for folks that are fearful of needles. Modern technology has made the needles so tiny and thin the insulin injection is rarely felt. Used properly together with your meal plan and exercise, insulin can provide you with excellent control.
There are plenty of different guides on the best way to self administer an insulin injection, so this subject will not be covered in this guide. The basics of using insulin are simple, and need knowledge of how insulin works which your doctor should explain to you. Insulin use also needs awareness of insulin delivery techniques, and insulin supplies that may help make your life with insulin a breeze.
Insulin delivery
Insulin delivery techniques are a matter of need and choice. Insulin users that have insulin pumps as their delivery system have very different guidelines that won't be covered here. The focus of insulin delivery systems for this article will be on syringes, insulin pens, jet injectors and inhaled insulin.
Dose amount and syringe size
Insulin syringes and needles come in numerous sizes. The quantity of your insulin dose decides the dimensions of the syringe that you will need to use. If you're taking 30 units or less, a 3/10 cc (30 unit) syringe will work. If you are taking 31 to 50 units, 1/2 cc syringe (50 unit) will be required. If your dose is 51 units or even more, a 1 cc (100 unit) syringe will be necessary. The needle sizes alter for each syringe size. Syringes might be acquired from a pharmacy.
Insulin syringes are throwaway, and should be discarded after one use. A bio hazardous container such as a sharps container will be wanted to hold dropped syringes. These containers can be had from some waste disposal services, and may acquired from any pharmacy. Disposal of sharps containers requires special handling. Your GP, diabetes educator, or drugstore should be able to tell you where sharps can be disposed of in your neighborhood.
Insulin Vials
Liquid insulin comes in vials and insulin pens. Vials are stored in the chiller till use, and are discarded after the insulin is employed up, or after 28 days, whichever comes first. Vials hold varied amounts of insulin depending on the brand. Insulin is drawn up into the syringe from the vial and can be injected into 1 or 2 areas of the body, usually the thigh or stomach. Most types of insulin require a prescription.
Insulin pens
Insulin pens are a handy technique to administer insulin. An insulin pen looks like an oversized ink pen, and uses throwaway needles. There are two differing types of pens. One type is prefilled with 300 units of insulin. The prefilled pen is discarded after the insulin is utilized up or after 28 days, the same as for vials. The other type uses insulin cartridges, and the cartridges are modified using the same schedule that is used for prefilled pens. Insulin pens are not refrigerated after the 1st use.
Needles for the insulin pens come in different sizes. Insulin dosages are dialed on the pen in 1/2 and one unit increments dependent on the kind of pen used. The result of dosing by pen is fewer dosing mistakes. Insulin pens are convenient, and allow simple dosing for folk on the go. Pens are also subtle. It's not endorsed that pen needles be used several times for a similar reasons that syringes shouldn't be reused; bacteria and possible infection. Pen needles should be discarded in a sharps container.
Another insulin delivery device which falls into the insulin pen category is named the InnoLet. This device looks like a kitchen timer with a big dial. The InnoLet holds 300 units of insulin and is very handy for folk with visual problems.
Jet Injectors
Jet injectors release a tiny stream of insulin through the skin by using a mechanism that creates high-pressure air. The injector does not utilise a needle. After the insulin dose is loaded into the injector, the injector is placed against the skin and a button is pressed to release the insulin into the skin. Jet injectors aren't highly regarded among insulin users due to bruising and other considerations.
Breathed Insulin
Exubera, the only insulin that's inhaled, was given approval to be used by the FDA in Jan of 2006. Your GP will counsel you if breathed insulin is an alternative for you to use to treat your diabetes. Exubera comes packed as a dry powder in blister packs, and the packs are loaded into an inhaler. The insulin is inhaled into the lungs. This strategy of insulin delivery has some restrictions that should be discussed with your doctor.
Diabetes supplies
After you decide which insulin delivery system you'll be using, a carrying case will be wanted to carry your insulin, meter and other necessary items, such as sharps containers. A great number of diabetes products are on the market to accommodate your wishes. Choosing the right products will make the time that you spend on diabetes management more productive. The best way to locate diabetes products is to hunt for them online, or look in diabetes mags.
It is important for insulin users to carry a meter and glucose capsules at all points. Insulin could cause "lows" which can cause unconsciousness if not treated swiftly. Insulin users also need to test more frequently than non-insulin users.
Now you have the insulin basics, you should be assured you can use insulin proficiently and painlessly as a part of your treatment plan. Debate with your physician which insulin delivery methodology is the best for you, and start on the road to better diabetes control.
The first thing to remember is that insulin isn't a punishment in any form. If you are using insulin, it's often because insulin is absent from your body, or your body still makes insulin but it is not enough. Often oral meds are no longer working, so insulin is added to your treatment plan. Your doctor will discuss your dosing wants with you.
Insulin injections are zip to be scared of, even for folks that are fearful of needles. Modern technology has made the needles so tiny and thin the insulin injection is rarely felt. Used properly together with your meal plan and exercise, insulin can provide you with excellent control.
There are plenty of different guides on the best way to self administer an insulin injection, so this subject will not be covered in this guide. The basics of using insulin are simple, and need knowledge of how insulin works which your doctor should explain to you. Insulin use also needs awareness of insulin delivery techniques, and insulin supplies that may help make your life with insulin a breeze.
Insulin delivery
Insulin delivery techniques are a matter of need and choice. Insulin users that have insulin pumps as their delivery system have very different guidelines that won't be covered here. The focus of insulin delivery systems for this article will be on syringes, insulin pens, jet injectors and inhaled insulin.
Dose amount and syringe size
Insulin syringes and needles come in numerous sizes. The quantity of your insulin dose decides the dimensions of the syringe that you will need to use. If you're taking 30 units or less, a 3/10 cc (30 unit) syringe will work. If you are taking 31 to 50 units, 1/2 cc syringe (50 unit) will be required. If your dose is 51 units or even more, a 1 cc (100 unit) syringe will be necessary. The needle sizes alter for each syringe size. Syringes might be acquired from a pharmacy.
Insulin syringes are throwaway, and should be discarded after one use. A bio hazardous container such as a sharps container will be wanted to hold dropped syringes. These containers can be had from some waste disposal services, and may acquired from any pharmacy. Disposal of sharps containers requires special handling. Your GP, diabetes educator, or drugstore should be able to tell you where sharps can be disposed of in your neighborhood.
Insulin Vials
Liquid insulin comes in vials and insulin pens. Vials are stored in the chiller till use, and are discarded after the insulin is employed up, or after 28 days, whichever comes first. Vials hold varied amounts of insulin depending on the brand. Insulin is drawn up into the syringe from the vial and can be injected into 1 or 2 areas of the body, usually the thigh or stomach. Most types of insulin require a prescription.
Insulin pens
Insulin pens are a handy technique to administer insulin. An insulin pen looks like an oversized ink pen, and uses throwaway needles. There are two differing types of pens. One type is prefilled with 300 units of insulin. The prefilled pen is discarded after the insulin is utilized up or after 28 days, the same as for vials. The other type uses insulin cartridges, and the cartridges are modified using the same schedule that is used for prefilled pens. Insulin pens are not refrigerated after the 1st use.
Needles for the insulin pens come in different sizes. Insulin dosages are dialed on the pen in 1/2 and one unit increments dependent on the kind of pen used. The result of dosing by pen is fewer dosing mistakes. Insulin pens are convenient, and allow simple dosing for folk on the go. Pens are also subtle. It's not endorsed that pen needles be used several times for a similar reasons that syringes shouldn't be reused; bacteria and possible infection. Pen needles should be discarded in a sharps container.
Another insulin delivery device which falls into the insulin pen category is named the InnoLet. This device looks like a kitchen timer with a big dial. The InnoLet holds 300 units of insulin and is very handy for folk with visual problems.
Jet Injectors
Jet injectors release a tiny stream of insulin through the skin by using a mechanism that creates high-pressure air. The injector does not utilise a needle. After the insulin dose is loaded into the injector, the injector is placed against the skin and a button is pressed to release the insulin into the skin. Jet injectors aren't highly regarded among insulin users due to bruising and other considerations.
Breathed Insulin
Exubera, the only insulin that's inhaled, was given approval to be used by the FDA in Jan of 2006. Your GP will counsel you if breathed insulin is an alternative for you to use to treat your diabetes. Exubera comes packed as a dry powder in blister packs, and the packs are loaded into an inhaler. The insulin is inhaled into the lungs. This strategy of insulin delivery has some restrictions that should be discussed with your doctor.
Diabetes supplies
After you decide which insulin delivery system you'll be using, a carrying case will be wanted to carry your insulin, meter and other necessary items, such as sharps containers. A great number of diabetes products are on the market to accommodate your wishes. Choosing the right products will make the time that you spend on diabetes management more productive. The best way to locate diabetes products is to hunt for them online, or look in diabetes mags.
It is important for insulin users to carry a meter and glucose capsules at all points. Insulin could cause "lows" which can cause unconsciousness if not treated swiftly. Insulin users also need to test more frequently than non-insulin users.
Now you have the insulin basics, you should be assured you can use insulin proficiently and painlessly as a part of your treatment plan. Debate with your physician which insulin delivery methodology is the best for you, and start on the road to better diabetes control.
About the Author:
Post Medical has been serving patients and the medical 1 since 1982. The firm provides safe and cutting edge sharps containers and solutions for the disposal of sharps for professionals and individuals. Post Medical offers answers to guarantee that patients with diabetes have a secure way of diabetic needle disposal to help answer the growing pandemic of needles as a community health hazard.
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