Various insulin injections and insulin pens for diabetes
Diabetes, as defined by the American Diabetes Association, is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose (sugar). Diabetes results when the body is not able to produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that acts as a key to get the glucose from food into the cells. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in the bloodstream. The consequences of too much sugar in the blood are that over time, several organs in the body are affected including the kidney, the eye, nerves, and the cardiovascular system.
Types of diabetes
- Type 1
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease that destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, which normally produce insulin.
It is the most common type of diabetes. It accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body fails to make enough insulin or properly use it; with less or no symptoms at the onset. It is mostly seen in people above 40 years of age; however, lifestyle changes have led to diabetes in youngsters too. Some people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugars through meal planning and exercise, while others need medications like insulin injections and pens.
Types of insulin
Rapid-acting insulin
Insulin Glulisine (Apidra), Insulin Lispro (Humalog), and Insulin Aspart (NovoLog) are the types of rapid-acting insulin that begin to work after 15 minutes after the injection; these medications help to deal with diabetes as they start to peak in about an hour and continue to work for 2 to 4 hours.
Regular or short-acting insulin
Humulin R and Novolin R are the types of regular or short-acting insulin that usually reach the bloodstream within 30 minutes after injection and start to peak in 2 to 3 hours; these medications that help deal with diabetes are effective for approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Intermediate-acting insulin
NPH (Humulin N and Novolin N) are the types of intermediate-acting insulin that generally reach the bloodstream 2 to 4 hours after injection and start to peak in 4 to 12 hours later; these medications that help deal with diabetes are effective for 12 to 18 hours.
Long-acting insulin
Insulin Detemir (Levemir) and Insulin Glargine (Lantus) are the types of Long-acting insulin that reaches the bloodstream several hours after injection and tends to lower glucose levels fairly evenly over a 24-hour period.
Inhaled insulin
Technosphere insulin-inhalation system (Afrezza) is a type of inhaled insulin that begins working within 12 to 15 minutes and peaks in after 30 minutes and is out of the system in 180 minutes.
Other ways of injecting insulin are the usage of insulin pens. They may contain a cartridge of insulin that may be inserted into the pen or is pre-filled with insulin and discarded after all the insulin has been used. The insulin dose is measured through a dial, and the insulin is injected through a needle, much like using a syringe.
The insulin intake could be anything but one needs to be regularly checking their diabetic supplies in order to avoid any health issues.
