Diabetes is a disease that causes excessive blood sugar levels to rise, because the hormone insulin is insufficient or even non-existent at all. Insulin injection will help to take over the body's natural insulin function, so that it can regulate blood sugar levels.
The way artificial insulin works is almost the same as the natural insulin hormone that processes blood sugar into energy. In addition, insulin also prevents the liver from producing excess sugar levels.
Insulin Injection in Diabetes
Insulin injections needed by sufferers If the body of type 1 diabetics can only make insulin in very small amounts or not at all, then in type 2 diabetes, the body may still be able to make insulin naturally but not enough or cannot be used effectively.
In type 2 diabetes, insulin injections are generally not given directly. Patients with type 2 diabetes will be asked to improve their lifestyle, and take medicine according to doctor's orders. However, if this condition gets worse over time, or if oral medication is no longer effective, chances are your doctor will recommend the use of insulin injections.
Types of insulin injections
The use of insulin injections is recommended to be in accordance with doctor's recommendations. After checking your condition, your doctor will recommend the right type and dose of insulin for you.
Based on how it works, insulin injections are divided into fast acting insulin (rapid acting insulin), short acting insulin (short acting insulin), intermediate acting insulin (intermediate acting insulin), long acting insulin (long acting insulin), and mixed insulin.
Insulin injections are used before eating or before bed so that blood sugar levels remain stable. However, each insulin has a different way of working according to its type, and its use will be adjusted to the patient's condition. You are not recommended to stop taking insulin, change the dose, or change the type of insulin without consulting a doctor first.
How to use insulin injections
In addition to providing information about when to use insulin injections, you can ask your doctor to explain how to use insulin injections.
First, ask your doctor about which areas of the body where insulin is injected. Generally the doctor will suggest to inject the soft body parts and have a lot of fat such as thighs, abdomen, buttocks, or upper arms.
Insulin injections are carried out using conventional syringes or insulin pens. How to inject insulin with the two devices is not much different.
The following is how to inject insulin using conventional syringes:
- Wash your hands first with water and soap before handling the syringe, then, open the outer lid of the vial or insulin package, then wipe the rubber on the top of the package with alcohol wipes.
- After that, pull the injection lever until the syringe is filled with air a number of doses of insulin recommended by your doctor.
- Insert the tip of the syringe into the vial through the layer of rubber packaging, then push the lever slowly so as not to leave air in the syringe.
- Flip the vial until the syringe is in the down position. The lever will be pushed by the air pressure and filled with insulin, then pull the lever to enter the insulin according to the required dose.
- If there are air bubbles, tap the syringe, so that the air bubbles rise above, then push the lever to release the bubbles, and pull the lever back to take the correct dose of insulin.
- Clean the area of the skin that you are going to inject with alcohol wipes. Hold the area of the skin with your fingers and then inject insulin into a 90 degree position. It should be noted that the syringe is only disposable, so the syringe must be removed immediately after use.
For people who have difficulty using conventional syringes, can use a tool that resembles a pen to facilitate insulin injection. This tool is called an insulin pen. Just like insulin injections, insulin pen syringes are only disposable and must always be replaced after use. Now insulin pen is increasingly being used because of its ease of use.
The use of insulin pen is more or less the same as conventional syringes, the difference is, insulin pen users do not need to measure the dose using insulin. You simply set the doctor's recommended dosage on the insulin pen, then inject it.
Below are practical ways to use insulin pen:
- Remove the insulin pen from the refrigerator, at least 30 minutes before the injection.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Remove the insulin pen cover, then attach the needle to the tip of the insulin pen.
- Remove the needle cover, and remove the air from the insulin pen by tapping the insulin pen tube until the air gathers above, then press the syringe button located on the tip of the insulin pen.
- Set the dosage according to doctor's instructions, then inject insulin after cleaning the skin area with alcohol wipes.
Avoid injecting insulin into areas that have bruises or sores. Try to inject insulin in a different area than before.
Despite its benefits, insulin injections have side effects that need attention. Insulin injections can cause low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia. Characterized by irritability, excessive sweating, fatigue or trembling. You may also feel hunger, dizziness and heart beat faster. If hypoglycemia is severe enough, it can cause fainting or convulsions. Immediately consult a doctor to get proper treatment.
Although diabetics have insulin disorders, but not all require insulin injections. Consult a doctor to find out whether your diabetes requires insulin injections as a way to treat it.
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