Your pancreas secretes insulin- a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When you have diabetes, your pancreas either fails to secrete it, or your receptors become insensitive to it. To keep your blood sugar levels under control, your healthcare provider may prescribe you insulin.
Insulin is an essential part of diabetes management. It can help in preventing complications associated with diabetes. In this article, we will tell you the tips that can help with insulin therapy. If you have diabetes, you should visit Best Internal Medicine Specialist in Karachi.
Be Open With Your Healthcare Providers
Before starting insulin therapy, you should talk to your healthcare provider. You should ask them all the questions in your mind. They will guide you on the dose, route of administration, and other details about it. Moreover, they will address all the concerns you have. Therefore you should be open about it.
Be Relaxed
It is normal to be nervous and anxious about injecting insulin daily. However, it is not as difficult as you think it might be. Your healthcare providers will try their best to make it easy for you. In the initial stage, your healthcare provider will administer you the long-acting insulin that needs fewer administrations. Along with that, you may need mealtime insulin.
With time, you can switch to different insulin delivery devices such as the pen or pump. They can ease your life. However, for that, you need to consult with your healthcare provider. For everyone, the dose, and type of insulin need differs.
Know About Insulin
Get proper guidance from your healthcare providers about insulin. They must inform you which insulin gives you cover for how much time and their side effects. Your doctor must also guide you about the symptoms of hypoglycemia. It is because the most common side effect of insulin is hypoglycemia.
You must also know how to combat the side effects of insulin. Along with that, you must know the symptoms of low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia that may include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Difficulty speaking
- Seizures
- Pale skin
- Muscle twitches
Generally, a blood sugar level of less than 70mg/dl is considered to be too low. At this stage, you may need to consume something sweet. However you should ask the number from your doctor- the low number for you.
Check Blood Sugar Levels
You must keep an eye on your blood sugar levels. Administering insulin without knowing the blood glucose level is not a good practice. It is because sometimes your blood glucose level may be low, and if you administer insulin over it, the condition can become life-threatening.
In the initial days of insulin administration, your healthcare providers may ask you to check your blood sugar levels frequently.
Your healthcare providers may need to change the dose of insulin, depending on your age, weight, needs, and physical activity.
Ask Questions
You should always feel free to ask questions with your healthcare providers. Your doctors will answer your questions regarding insulin and diabetes management. If you have any side effects of medications you take for diabetes, you must tell them. Moreover, you must remain in a follow-up visit with your healthcare provider. In this way, they can manage your diabetes more efficiently.
You must also keep a detailed log of your blood sugar levels, especially the fasting, premeal and postmeal readings. If your blood sugar levels remain too high, you can visit an Internal Medicine specialist in Lahore.
