Diabetes Treatment

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.