Understanding Insulin Archives

What is the risk of not knowing enough about insulin?

Insulin is an essential diabetes medication, yet errors in prescribing and administering insulin occur frequently and can result in hypoglycaemia and even death. Improving knowledge of healthcare professionals, people with …

Carlos and Seema: the future

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: a medical emergency

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 …

What happens when insulin levels run low in type 1 diabetes

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 …

Side effect: allergic reactions

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: minimising weight gain

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 …

Side effect: weight gain

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 …

Carlos: an episode of hypoglycaemia

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 …

What is hypoglycaemia?

In this article, we provide you with an overview of the side effects that the use of insulin can be associated with. Hypoglycaemia What is hypoglycaemia and why does it …

Psychological and behavioural reasons

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 …

Metabolic factors that can affect the action of insulin

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 …

6 physical barriers to insulin effectiveness

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 …

How is the route of administration of insulin decided?

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 …

The 3 routes of administration for insulin

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 …

What makes an insulin prescription safe?

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 …

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