Only Insulin Works Every Time

The only way to avoid the side effects that occur when insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas are forced to work overtime by Glucotrol, or fat cells multiply in vast number due to gene activation by Actos or Avandia, or the liver is kept from releasing sugar by metformin, is to take insulin shots. When you take insulin rather forcing your pancreas to make insulin to lower your blood sugars, the few healthy beta cells that remain in your pancreas are given a chance to rest and maybe to multiply. When you take insulin instead of growing new fat cells to store sugar from your bloodstream, you have at least a fighting chance at maintaining healthy weight. (Many people gain up to 100 pounds/45 kilos without changing diet or exercise habits when on TZDs such as Actos and Avandia.) And when you take insulin instead of Januvia, Byetta, or Victoza, you have a much lower risk of pancreatic cancer.

Insulin Injections Don't Have to Be Painful

Many people erroneously assume that insulin injections are painful. They aren't, although many nurses and doctors don't know how to give them painlessly.

Hold the syringe in one hand and depress the skin over the injection site with two fingers of the other hand. Let the skin bounce up to meet the needle and then inject insulin into the site. If you do this, and you use a thin needle (30 gauge or higher), the injection should not hurt and should not draw blood.

Important Not to Inject into the Same Site Every Time

Many people also don't know that it is a good idea to use a different injection site every time they take their insulin. Injections can be made anywhere there is fat beneath the skin, the stomach, the hips, the inner thighs, or the shoulders. But because there can be a mild reaction to some of the chemicals used to preserve insulin or mild irritation from the injection itself, it is helpful not to shoot insulin into the exact same location every time.

The Only Way to Go Wrong with Insulin for Diabetes

There is basically only one way to go wrong with insulin for diabetes.

See Also: Insulin Allergy and Insulin Resistance

Insulin will help keep your blood sugars under control even if you indulge in cookies, cake, candy, ice cream, and pie, but you will need more and more insulin every time you let your blood sugar levels cross the critical 170 mg/dl (10 mmol/L) threshold. Eventually you may find that even huge amounts of insulin never get your blood sugar levels where they need to be, even if you also take medication.

But if you are a newly diagnosed diabetic, the very best treatment is a combination of carefully following your diabetic diet, gentle daily exercise, and insulin as directed. Take your blood sugar levels every morning and after every meal to make sure you are using the right amount of insulin, not too little and not too much.