Diabetes Treatment
Insulin Treatment To Cure Diabetes
Insulin is the hormone which breaks down
large food molecules like carbohydrates, fats and proteins into smaller
chunks like glucose so that it can be absorbed readily by the cells
present in the body. In Diabetes this hormone is not produced in
sufficient quantities or not produced at all and this creates an
imbalance in the body in which it doesn't produce energy and the
bloodstream gets overloaded with sugar molecules which damage major
organs.
Insulin treatment is needed by all Type
I diabetic patients and also 30 % of Type I diabetics because there is
almost no production of Insulin in their body. If Insulin is not
provided then there is a rise in the blood sugar level along with most
ketones as the body burns it's fat stores leading to a life threatening
situation known as Diabetic Acidosis. On the other hand, if too much
insulin is injected then it leads to lower blood sugar level which leads
to Hypoglycemia which can lead to another life threatening situation
called Diabetic Coma.
In Type 2 diabetes, insulin is needed as
there is progressive degeneration of the insulin producing Beta Cells in
the Pancreas and the marked resistance to insulin which in later years
mirrors Type I diabetes.
There are four types of insulin
treatments available:
a) Short Acting Insulin: This type of Insulin is soluble and
starts working within thirty minutes of being injected or taken orally
and keeps on working for eight to ten hours. Some examples of short
acting insulin are Insulin Aspart and Insulin Lispro.
b) Intermediate Acting Insulin: This type of Insulin starts
working in one to two hours and continues to work till ten to fourteen
hours.
c) Long Acting Insulin: This type of Insulin starts working in two
to three hours and can last up to twenty four hours. Some examples of
long acting insulin are Insulin Zinc Suspension and Insulin Detemir.
d) Biphasic Insulin: These are the mixtures of short acting and
intermediate acting insulins in different proportions to go with the
need of the patient.
The most common insulin regimes are:
1) Twice daily doses of short acting and intermediate acting insulin
within a twenty four hour period.
2) Three times daily with long acting insulin just before bed.
3) Multiple daily injections of insulin with long acting insulin just
before bed.
The idea of insulin treatment is to maintain the blood sugar level
between 80-120 mg per decilitre without using too much or too less,
along with accommodating the lifestyle of the patient.