Diabetes exists in several forms, the most prominent being type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Patients with type I or type II diabetes either can’t produce adequate insulin on their own, or don’t respond normally to insulin, meaning they are insulin resistant and cannot metabolize glucose into bodily energy. In many cases, a strict insulin regimen is necessary to treat and manage diabetes symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, weight changes, vision issues, increased urination and thirst, mood swings, fainting, and to balance blood sugar as well as to prevent more severe health problems such as blindness, infection, nerve damage, and loss of limbs.
Insulin therapy is available to treat diabetes via these methods:
1. Insulin pump
An insulin pump may be recommended to type 1 diabetics because it offers a continuous and often more comfortable option for insulin therapy, as opposed to daily injections (which many patients aren’t comfortable with). Insulin pumps are worn consistently by patients who require a more flexible insulin therapy schedule. It’s attached under the skin with a catheter to offers a steady infusion of subcutaneous insulin as needed. However, it must be used in combination with regular and ongoing blood glucose monitoring by the patient or caregiver.
2. Fast-acting inhaled insulin
Inhaled insulin is delivered to the body via inhaler, much like an asthma inhaler. The fine insulin mist is breathed in through the mouth and lungs before it enters the blood vessels and then the bloodstream. In 2014, the Federal Drug Administration approved the first U.S. available rapid-acting insulin, called Afrezza, which is recommended for use prior to meals.
3. Oral insulin
Not all type 2 diabetics need insulin, yet many will be prescribed oral pills or insulin shots to manage blood glucose and lower diabetes symptoms. Insulin pills are prescribed by strict schedule and dose to prevent blood sugar from spiking. There are several other kinds of oral medicines to treat diabetes and not all are insulin (i.e., Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and Sulfonylureas, etc.).
4. Insulin shots
One of the most common forms of insulin therapy is delivered by insulin shot, or injection given under the fatty tissue of the thigh or abdomen. Insulin injections are typically scheduled regularly throughout the day to manage blood sugars. They are available in needle and syringe or insulin pen, which injects insulin hormone via a cartridge and dosage dial, and disposable needles.
