People living with type 1 diabetes can’t make insulin, so they must inject insulin to control their blood glucose levels.
Many people living with type 2 diabetes can manage their blood glucose levels with lifestyle changes and oral medication. However, if these treatments don’t help control glucose levels, people living with type 2 diabetes may also need supplemental insulin.
Types of insulin treatments
All types of insulin produce the same effect. They are used to mimic the natural increases and decreases of insulin levels in the body during the day. The makeup of different types of insulin affects how fast and how long they work.
The type of insulin you’ll be prescribed will vary depending on things like:
Your age.
Your activity level.
How long it takes your body to absorb insulin.
How long insulin stays active in your system.
Administration and dosage
Insulin is most commonly administered through a syringe, insulin pen, or insulin pump. The type of insulin injection you use will be based on your personal preference, health needs, and insurance coverage.
Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to give yourself the injections. You can inject the insulin under the skin in different parts of your body, such as you
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Upper arm
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Your doctor will likely also explain the importance of changing where on your body you inject insulin to prevent lumps or fatty deposits from forming at the injection.
How to choose the right method for injecting insulin
Both syringes and insulin pens use a small needle to inject insulin into your body. There are pros and cons to each, and which one you ultimately end up with will depend on your lifestyle and your doctor’s advice.
Things to know about insulin syringes:
They come in a few different sizes.
Your doctor will tell you how much insulin you need per dose.
You will usually draw the insulin into the syringe when you need it.
They’re not as discreet as an insulin pen.
Things to know about insulin pens:
Some pens use cartridges that are manually inserted into the pen.
Other pens are prefilled and thrown away after all the insulin is used.
Needles in pens are often smaller than those in syringes.
Not all types of insulin can be used with a pen.
Pens can be more expensive than syringes and are sometimes not covered by insurance.
How to take insulin without a syringe
There are two ways to get your insulin without using a syringe or needle. Your doctor will decide if one of these options works for your personal needs.
Insulin pumps:
Deliver insulin continuously through a plastic tube placed Semi-permanently into the fatty layer under your skin.
Are typically placed in the stomach area or back of the upper arm.
Can deliver insulin more accurately than a syringe.
Need to be told to deliver additional insulin for meals.
May cause weight gain.
May cause infection.
May be expensive.
Insulin inhalers:
Deliver ultra-rapid-acting insulin.
Are typically used before a meal.
Commonly must be used along with injectable, longer-acting insulin.
May cause less weight gain.
May cause coughing.
Don’t give as exact doses compared with other methods.
Require routine testing to monitor for side effects.
How should I store my insulin?
Like food, insulin doesn’t have a forever shelf life. It’s recommended that you store any insulin you’re not using in the fridge.
However, injecting cold insulin may make the injection feel more painful. Because of this, a best practice is to keep the bottle of insulin you’re currently using in a safe place, away from direct heat and sunlight. Insulin kept at room temperature can last about a month.
Do not store insulin in the freezer, and always check the expiration date before using it.
Side effects and reactions
Side effects from injecting or receiving insulin are rare, but can occur in certain cases. The symptoms of mild allergic reactions are swelling, itching, or redness around the injection area. More severe insulin allergies may include nausea and vomiting.
In either case, talk with your doctor if you notice any of these signs.
Hypoglycemia, or blood glucose levels that are too low, can sometimes occur when you take insulin.
It’s important to balance the insulin that you give yourself with food or calories. If you exercise longer or harder than usual or don’t eat the right amount of calories or carbs, your glucose level can drop too low and trigger low blood sugar. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:
Fatigue
Inability to speak
Sweating
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Muscle twitching
Pale skin
Typically, a blood glucose reading of less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered too low for almost anyone using insulin, but you should talk with your doctor about what is too low for you.
Treatment.
To treat hypoglycemia (less than 70mg/dL or the level your doctor has said is too low for you), carry at least 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates with you at all times. That’s about equal to any of the following:
1/2 cup of non-diet soda.
1/2 cup of fruit juice.
5 Life Saver candies.
2 tablespoons of raisins.
3 to 4 glucose tablets.
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