Diabetes is usually diagnosed when there is a high level of sugar in the body. This happens when the body has stopped delivering insulin or when the body isn’t receptive to the insulin that is created. Often the best diabetes control method is essentially changing your way of life, monitoring your glucose and following the eating and exercise routine endorsed by the doctor. However, each of these changes should be approved by your clinician.

Diabetes treatment may include oral medications prescribed by your doctor, or even insulin injections (insulin is a very dangerous medication, and like all other medications must be prescribed by your clinician. It is strictly controlled). Diabetes management is about emulating nature. Often the goal is to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible for as much of the time as possible.

Each individual has an extremely unique way of life that is not quite the same as other individuals. Because of this, it is important to consult a clinician at all stages of diabetes treatment. There is no universal treatment. One example is when a patient may have both diabetes and heart disease. In this case it may not be optimal to take certain medications or to exercise in a specific way. That is why it is important to consult a clinician.

There are a number of pharmaceutical insulins that can be prescribed which have different properties. Clinicians may prescribe a specific type of insulin, or even a blend. Patients may be prescribed a certain type of insulin in the morning and another type in the evening. The patient may also require other medications which may have conflicts with certain types of insulin or oral medications.

Some unique and interesting advancements in the delivery of insulin have came about in recent years.

Utilization of an Insulin Pump

This is one of the techniques that is currently being used by diabetics who are prescribed insulin. The pump itself must also be prescribed and a clinician must be heavily involved at every stage of insulin pump acquisition and usage. An insulin pump is a small device about the size of a cell phone. It is intended to be worn on a belt or some other outward facing clothing on the patient’s body. It has a disposable tube that is embedded frequently, which delivers insulin. The pump usually has an accompanying meter and/or a continuous glucose monitoring system which updates the pump on the current level of blood glucose and delivers the appropriate amount of insulin to counteract it. Certain instructions might also be hard coded into the pump by your clinician.

Pre-Filled Insulin Pen

Diabetics may likewise utilize a pre-filled pen that comes filled with a prescription of insulin already inside it. Traditionally diabetics would use a syringe and a medication bottle to take up and inject the insulin. With the prefilled pin, prescribed by a clinician, a diabetic patient can simply adjust the device, add an insulin “pentip” and inject themselves with minimal hassle. The gadget is the size of a pen as its name suggests. It holds the insulin cartridge that is pre-filled and then infused by the patient into their own body. All insulin, including that in a prefilled pen, must be prescribed by a clinician.

Inhaled insulin

Another new strategy for insulin uptake is inhaled insulin. This requires a prescription from a clinician. This is a more recent innovation. The inhaler used with inhaled insulin is acquired from a pharmacy and must also be prescribed. Insulin is breathed in similar to a traditional inhaler.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.