Starting Insulin Injections

Anna

My doctor prescribed insulin – how do I starting insulin injections?

Starting Insulin Injections is a big step when it comes to treating your Type 2 diabetes. If your Type 2 Diabetes is at the point where oral medications are no longer keeping your blood sugar in check, then your doctor will prescribe injectable insulin. 

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists sets the standard for determining when people get prescribed insulin. They recommend insulin for people with Type 2 diabetes when the person has an A1c above 9 and complains of symptoms.

People with untreated Type 2 diabetes can stop producing insulin. In this case, your doctor will prescribe it for you.

Starting insulin injections will bring your high blood sugar levels down very quickly.

Diet and healthy lifestyle changes take time to improve your blood sugar. Insulin injections are immediate. They are not a cure-all for all of the problems Type 2 diabetics may face. Therefore, improvements to diet and lifestyle can help people get off of insulin and get back on track.

Basal Bolus Regimen

You may get prescribed a basal-bolus1 regimen. This involves taking several injections throughout the day. These injections are taken with meals and before bed.

You may get a prescription for a single basal injection. Inject this at night before bed. This ensures steady blood sugar levels during sleep. 

You can inject insulin with a pen or a syringe.

Pens have a prefilled cartridge of insulin. They have thin short needles. These insulin cartridges are usable for 2 – 4 weeks without refrigeration. Inspect the cartridge and discard any that have floating clumps inside. Always check the end dates. Expired insulin is not helpful.

Syringes get filled by the user out of an insulin container. Allowing bubbles inside of the syringe can cause underdosing. Tap the syringe several times once it’s full to get the bubbles out before injection. Do not mix long-lasting insulin with other types. Follow the instructions from your doctor exactly.

Injecting insulin into different areas of the body affects the speed at which it can get into the bloodstream. Insulin injections get into the bloodstream fastest when injected into the abdomen. They are slowest when injected into the butt or the thighs.

Avoid injecting into the area around the belly button. Change injection sites on the abdomen to avoid soreness.

Click below to read about how Insulin can cause weight gain and what you can do about it.

How Does Insulin Cause You to Gain Weight?

Anna
  1. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/basal-bolus.html#:~:text=A%20basal%2Dbolus%20injection%20regimen,1%20and%20type%202%20diabetes.

More of what you love

Managing Ozempic Injection Side Effects: What You Need to Know

Discover the benefits and potential side effects of Ozempic (semaglutide) for managing type 2 diabetes in this comprehensive guide. Learn how it improves A1C levels, controls blood sugar, and aids in weight loss while understanding the risks. Get expert tips on managing side effects with lifestyle changes and when to consult your doctor for effective diabetes care.

read more

Ozempic doesn’t have to make you nauseous!

  Does Ozempic make you nauseous? Injecting Ozempic into the belly can cause nausea and vomiting due to stimulation of the digestive system. Injecting into other fatty parts of the body, such as the upper thigh or arm, can reduce the likelihood of experiencing...

read more

1% better every day. Small changes over time lead to big results.

Managing Ozempic Injection Side Effects: What You Need to Know

Managing Ozempic Injection Side Effects: What You Need to Know

Discover the benefits and potential side effects of Ozempic (semaglutide) for managing type 2 diabetes in this comprehensive guide. Learn how it improves A1C levels, controls blood sugar, and aids in weight loss while understanding the risks. Get expert tips on managing side effects with lifestyle changes and when to consult your doctor for effective diabetes care.

Managing Ozempic Injection Side Effects: What You Need to Know

Ozempic doesn’t have to make you nauseous!

  Does Ozempic make you nauseous? Injecting Ozempic into the belly can cause nausea and vomiting due to stimulation of the digestive system. Injecting into other fatty parts of the body, such as the upper thigh or arm, can reduce the likelihood of experiencing...