All you need to know about your medication – and how to store it.
- Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. It acts as the “key” that lets glucose (from food) leave the blood and enter the cells of the body.
- People with diabetes either do not make enough of their own insulin (Type 1 diabetes), or the insulin their body makes is not as effective as it should be (Type 2 diabetes). As a result, most people with diabetes need to take medication, in tablet form or insulin injections.
- While it is often possible to control Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise at first, eventually insulin will be necessary for most people with Type 2, as diabetes is a progressive condition.
- There are three different kinds of insulin: short-acting, long-acting and combination.
- Short-acting insulin is taken at mealtimes to cover the glucose released from the food that is being eaten.
- Long-acting insulin has a slow release and works as a basal (background) insulin for a number of hours – it is usually taken once or twice a day in addition to short-acting insulin.
- Combination insulin is a mixture of long-acting and short-acting insulin, often prescribed to Type 2 diabetics.
- Insulin must only be taken on prescription from a doctor, as it is essential to take the right dose (prescribed for you) at the right time.
- Storing insulin correctly is important: it should not get too hot (over 30°C) or freeze. Spare insulin should be kept in the fridge, and the pen you are using can be kept at room temperature for 1 month. Always keep insulin out of direct sunlight.
- Learning how to inject properly will make the injections as pain-free as possible.
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