Course: Understanding Insulin

Longer term, if diabetes is uncontrolled for a number of months to years, both Carlos and Seema will be at increased risk of a number of serious health problems. Did …

Carlos continues to experience issues with regulating his insulin and during a particularly nasty cold and flu virus forgets to take his insulin. He has very high levels of glucose …

If they feel unwell, people with diabetes need to take special care as any illness, even if not specifically related to their diabetes (like the flu) can cause their blood …

Allergic reactions to insulin are a rare occurrence. The first clue that these are occurring is if the insulin user experiences redness, swelling or itching at the injection site, soon …

Seema has a review with her doctor after being on insulin for a few weeks as she is concerned about her weight … Whilst it can be easier for health …

Aside from promoting glucose uptake into the body to provide energy, insulin is also an anabolic hormone (i.e. it promotes storage). In uncontrolled diabetes, excess glucose is lost in the …

When Carlos was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the essential need to self administer insulin was clearly explained to him. The risk of experiencing hypoglycaemia when using insulin was also …

In this section we provide you with an overview of the side effects that the use of insulin can be associated with. We start with looking in detail at hypoglycaemia …

When assessing a person who has diabetes with an unexplained high blood glucose level, it is essential to ensure that they are taking the insulin as advised: Missing doses regularly …

Usually, the level of circulating blood glucose is kept tightly regulated by an appropriate response by the β cells of the pancreas to produce insulin. In diabetes, there can often …

If someone using insulin reported persistent high blood glucose levels when they tested it, it would be very easy to simply increase the insulin dose. Before this is done, a …

Generally, if someone can eat and drink, then the use of subcutaneous insulin to regulate their blood glucose levels is appropriate. The use of insulin intravenously by infusion is appropriate …

Insulin is only available as a liquid preparation. Depending on different circumstances it can: be injected subcutaneously (in the skin) via an insulin syringe, pre-filled pen device or insulin pen …

As you have already seen, there are over 30 types of insulin available for use by patients with diabetes. Whether working in a community clinic or in a hospital, it …

Apart from lowering blood glucose, insulin can also be used in hospital as an emergency treatment for hyperkalaemia, a high risk situation in which the blood potassium level is dangerously …