Type I and Type2 Diabetes are actually quite different illnesses. Type I Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and very young adults. It used to be called Juvenile Diabetes as it was diagnosed in children at early ages. However today the age factor has been has been seen to alter. I am a Type 1 diabetic and got it when I was three.

Type I diabetics have a pancreas which has ceased to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone which is needed to take sugar from the blood into the cells. It is thought to be caused by a virus attacking the autoimmune system.

Type 2 diabetes has been associated with people of middle-age and beyond. It is generally diagnosed later in life.  Obesity and lack of exercise have been named as the main culprits of the illness. Here again the age factor is blurred, as more and more youngsters get Type 2 diabetes from an early age, probably because of poor diet and lack of exercise.

Millions of people around the world are being diagnosed with diabetes. Research shows  that there is a clear link to obesity and the development of the Type 2 disease.  People with Type 2 diabetes do not process enough insulin to break down the glucose in their system and cause their kidneys to work overtime in getting rid of the waste.  While some people with Type2 diabetes are prescribed insulin, most are started on oral medication.

Type 1 diabetes is a rarer breed covering only about 10% of all those diagnosed. Daily insulin injections have to become a way of life. As yet no cure has been found for either illness, although patients with the early stage of Type 2 diabetes, can almost reverse the condition through good diet and exercise.

The symptoms of Type I and Type 2 Diabetes are very similar: frequent trips to the loo, a raging thirst, extreme tiredness and blurred vision are the most common symptoms.

A person with Type I Diabetes will expect to be on insulin for the rest of his or her life. This does not mean that they cannot lead a long, productive life. In fact, people who are diagnosed younger in life become accustomed to the treatment and become disciplined in managing the illness. Those who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes later in life and have gotten into bad eating habits, tend to ignore many treatment options offered by their G.P.

Years ago, a child who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes had to inject himself every day with insulin to remain alive. At that time syringes had to be boiled to sterilize them.  Some people alive today have been injecting insulin for 70 years.

Today, however, insulin pumps are available that make daily injections for some patients a thing of the past. But the insulin pump is not available worldwide, and doesn’t suit everyone. Pen type syringes are used by many diabetics today, including myself. They are super easy to use.

Diet and exercise are very important to diabetes sufferers, whether Type I or Type 2. Ideally you need to avoid foods that are very high in sugar, fats and starch. ( I follow the Glycemic Index system.)  Diabetics need  to take some exercise every day to keep blood sugar levels in control.

The University of Toronto developed the Glycaemic Index in 1981. The research rated those foods which diabetics should avoid on a scale system.  Some foods were very high on the scale and took a longer time for the body to process, causing more strain on the kidneys and adverse affects on insulin.  Other foods were low on the scale and digested at a slower pace.

For years, it was thought that sweets were the cause of diabetes and these were the only foods to avoid.  With the advent of the Glycaemic Index as well as other medical studies, it became apparent that sweets were not the only foods to avoid.  As a matter of fact, a baked potato, often seen as a nutritional substance, is actually more harmful than a bag of sweets…

Type 2 diabetics may find that by taking regular exercise, eating the right foods and monitoring their blood glucose levels, they can avoid the use of insulin.  In many cases, patients are very successful at maintaining good blood sugar levels by modifying their diet, exercising and losing weight.  Those who are not successful usually end up taking insulin.

With both Type I and Type 2 diabetes, there can be complications. These complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease and skin disorders can be avoided if patients follow the advice of their diabetic consultant.

Many of these complications can be avoided. By learning all you can about the disease it is possible to manage the illness successfully.  Diabetes need not be all gloom and doom.  With proper maintenance, those with Type I and Type 2 diabetes can live long and happy lives.

Insulin is the most anabolic steroid you can take. On the other hand its also one of the most dangerous for two reasons – availability and ignorance. I will be the first to tell you that every time I have been hypoglycemic (when blood sugar drops to dangerous levels) its has been as a result of something I did wrong. Used responsibility and with respect for the potential sides it is quite safe and extremely effective. That being said we’ll start off with what you are going to need.

Insulin pumps are a safe, effective way to deliver intensive insulin therapy. The device involves a small catheter, which is inserted under the skin, and a pump, which is about the size of a pager, that is worn outside the body. The pump has a reservoir and can be programmed to deliver small amounts of insulin on a schedule that you determine. To deliver extra doses of insulin (at mealtime, for example), you simply press a button on the device.

Insulin is a hormone that controls the level of blood sugar (also called glucose) in your body. People with diabetes may not have enough insulin or may not be able to use it properly. The sugar then builds up in the blood and overflows into the urine, passing out of your body unused. This deprives you of an important source of energy.

The goal of taking insulin is to keep your blood sugar level in a normal range as much as possible so you’ll stay healthy. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems such as blindness and kidney failure.

Insulin is injected into fat just under the skin using a small needle. There are several places in the body where it can be injected. Insulin works fastest when injected near the stomach, medium speed when injected into the arm, and slowest when injected into the thigh or buttocks. Your doctor will discuss these methods with you.

Oral hypoglycemic agents are often used by type II diabetics who can’t control the disease by means of diet or exercise. These medications are taken by mouth and are usually given once daily. They may lower blood glucose levels for as long as four to five days after the last dose is taken. Other agents last for only 24 hours. The newer drugs have fewer side effects and are more potent. But they are also more likely to cause hypoglycemia and should be used cautiously.

The insulin pen looks like an ink pen with a cartridge. On one end is a small needle; on the other is a plunger that you press to deliver the insulin under the skin. A dial on the cartridge allows you to select your desired dosage of insulin. Although it can cost more than a regular needle and syringe, the pen injector is a convenient and accurate device for using insulin. It can be a good choice for people who do not feel comfortable using a needle and syringe in public or at school or work.

Just because you have diabetes does not mean you cannot go on holiday. All you have to do is to make sure you prepare well.

Key tips:

1) Always have some type of diabetes ID on you so that people know that you are diabetic. An identification bracelet or an ID card would be ideal.

2) Make sure you have a written certificate from your doctor in the language (if possible) of the country you are visiting stating that your medication or insulin is for the treatment of your diabetes. The last thing you want in a foreign country is any misunderstanding regarding medication and needles.

3) Take a recent copy of your prescription with you. No one wants to lose their medication but these things can happen. Having the name of the medicines you are on can at least help you find replacements.

4) Take more medication and test strips than you would normally use just in case some are damaged or lost and take as much as twice the insulin you actually need for your trip.

5) If you use a insulin pen, take a U100 insulin injection with you for emergencies.

6) Take your blood glucose meter with you and make sure you have sufficient test strips supplies. You may well need to monitor more often.

7) Make sure you know where you can go for medical help in the place you are visiting preferably beforehand but if not on your arrival.

Check with your insurance company that your diabetes is covered.

9) Make sure that your medication or insulin do not become too hot or cold. There are special cool bags that can keep insulin cool during travel. Also, it is best to keep insulin in your hand luggage as it is likely to freeze in the hold of the plane.

10) Always carry a snack or hypo treatments in case of hypoglycaemia or if a meal is delayed or contains too little carbohydrates.

An insulin reaction is an excessively low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), usually lower than 50 mg/dL. Insulin reactions result from an excess of insulin via an injection or an excess of an insulin-stimulating oral hypoglycemic agent, usually in the sulfonylurea class of drugs. Insulin reactions are more common in people with severe diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurs more often when a person is attempting to achieve near normal blood sugar levels.

According to the product labels from all three U.S. insulin manufacturers, it is recommended that insulin be stored in a refrigerator at approximately 35 to 46 degrees F.  Unopened and stored in this manner, these products maintain potency until the expiration date on the package.  However, all of the available insulin products may be left unrefrigerated (between 59 and 86 degrees F) for up to 28 days and still maintain potency.

People with Type 1 diabetes produce inadequate amounts of insulin, so insulin replacement is their key treatment.

Without adequate insulin replacement, people with Type 1 diabetes will see their blood sugar levels rise and the body will start to burn up its fat stores. In a few days this leads to a condition called diabetic acidosis, which is life threatening.

Many people who take insulin to manage their diabetes inject the insulin with a needle and syringe that delivers insulin just under the skin. Several other devices for taking insulin are available, and new approaches are under development.

Injection aids are devices that help users give injections with needles and syringes through the use of spring-loaded syringe holders or stabilizing guides. Many of these aids use push-button systems to administer the injection.

Insulin pens can be helpful if you want the convenience of carrying insulin with you in a discreet way. An insulin pen looks like a pen with a cartridge. Some of these devices use replaceable cartridges of insulin; other pen models are totally disposable. A short, fine needle, similar to the needle on an insulin syringe, is on the tip of the pen. Users turn a dial to select the desired dose of insulin and press a plunger on the end to deliver the insulin just under the skin.

Insulin resistance is a state in which a given concentration of insulin produces a less-than-expected biological effect. Insulin resistance has also been arbitrarily defined as the requirement of 200 or more units of insulin per day to attain glycemic control and to prevent ketosis.

The syndromes of insulin resistance actually comprise a broad clinical spectrum, which includes obesity, glucose intolerance, diabetes, and syndrome X, as well as an extreme insulin-resistant state. Many of these disorders are associated with various endocrine, metabolic, and genetic conditions. These syndromes may also be associated with immunological diseases and may exhibit distinct phenotypic characteristics.

Eric Timmy asked:


There are many different insulins for many different situations and lifestyles and there are more than 20 types of insulin sold in the United States. These insulins differ in how they are made, how they work in the body, and price. Insulin is made in labs to be identical to human insulin or it comes from animals (pigs). Future availability of animal insulin is uncertain.

When choosing a syringe, there are four things to consider:

Which insulin concentration it’s designed for

Its capacity

The needle gauge (or thickness)

The needle length

Your doctor can help you choose a syringe that’s designed for the insulin strength that you use as well as the needle gauge (children often need smaller gauge needles for comfort). For example, if you use U-100 insulin, use U-100 syringes; otherwise, you will inject the wrong amount of insulin.

Common syringe capacities in cubic centimeters (cc) are:

3/10 cc – designed for people who take less than 30 units of insulin per dose.

1/2 cc – works best for doses of 25 to 50 units

1 cc – holds doses up to 100 units of insulin

Choose the smallest syringe barrel that can hold the total insulin dose you need to take. This will make reading the unit increments on the syringe barrel easier.

Bad insulin can head to higher blood glucose levels. Insulin does not get to be kept refrigerated but it lasts longer when it is. All insulin should be discarded after the expiry appointment or 30 days after it was opened and pierced with a syringe, whichever is earlier. Insulin that has been frozen or exposed to any warmth origin should too be thrown away.

Note: If you are using an insulin pen, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to use the pen correctly. Giving insulin with these pens is not covered in this information.



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Mike Herman asked:


You’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, fortunately, diabetes does not mean what it once did and current research and break through’s mean that things are continuing to improve as you read this.

Vacations, airline travel, cruises, and long drives to a vacation destination are all possible. It takes some planning and some extra work, but you can do it.

You need to plan for them and prepare for possible emergency, allowing for a safe and enjoyable vacation for you.

• Consult with your doctor and your medical support team about changing insulin doses and an extra prescription for insulin.

• Carry a snacks and juices and plenty of water wherever you go. This will help if you need something quick to bring up sugar levels. Keep extra diabetes supplies in the same pack. If you keep everything together, they will be handy when the need arises.

• Be sure to pack extra supplies in a hand bag or purse, it’s a good idea to even pack your diabetes and extras in several bags.

• Always wear your medical alert bracelet and any other medical information that might be needed.

• Your friends and families should know the route you are traveling.

• Making reservations for busy restaurants may help you avoid long waits. They also may be able to provide you with nutritional information about menu selections.

• Remember that any change in physical activity, even packing or loading up the car, can cause blood glucose levels to swing high or low.

• Insulin should not be allowed to freeze and must be kept out of direct sunlight, as should all supplies, sunlight can affect test results. Ice packs can be used to keep insulin chilled.

• And lastly, can’t say this often enough, always have plenty of extra insulin and food for any unforeseen moments on any excursion.

The Transportation Security Administration section of the Department of Homeland Security has many good tips on flying when you have diabetes. If you need further information from them, you can call them at (866) 289-9673.

Going to a theme park or water park? Be safe and keep your insulin supplies in a waterproof bag to avoid water damage.

When traveling in a boat, the diabetic should be aware of any seasickness they may suffer from. The main problem of the dependent insulin diabetic patient is that seasickness can upset their diabetic condition and cause them to have problems.

Will you be flying? If you happen to have an insulin pump, ask them to do a visual inspection of your insulin pump and do a physical pat down. If you go through the metal detector, you will set it off. Most should know what an insulin pump is but it doesn’t hurt to remind them. If they ask you to remove your pump, remind them that it is a needle under your skin.

Once you have had your supplies screened, the following are diabetic supplies that can be carried onboard with you.

- Glucagon emergency kit

- Urine ketone test strips

- A disposal container or something similar and an unlimited supply of used syringes and testing strips

- Insulin pump and supplies including all supplies needed for cleaning, extra plastic tubing, infusion kits, batteries, catheter, and needles

- Insulin dispensing products, including vials, pens, jet injectors, infusers, and any preloaded syringes as well as insulin

- Lancets, testing strips, glucose meters, alcohol swabs, and any other meter-testing supplies

- Unlimited number of unused syringes as long as they are with your insulin or other medication that is injected.

Remember when flying; don’t check all of your diabetic supplies. If you have watched the news, you know there is many bags lost each year.

Checking your blood sugar more often during time away from home is best. It is recommended you check at least six times a day to avoid any problems. Be prepared for changing blood sugar levels because of heat, excitement, and schedule changes. It is also recommended is to drink at least 64 ounces of water each day and more if you are more active than usual. You should drink the same amount of water even if you are visiting a beach or a pool.

The insulin pump is becoming more popular. It can give you the flexibility of vacation schedules without worrying about injections. The pump is more popular, especially for children with diabetes. As new technology makes these pumps even better, more children and adults will have the freedom to travel.



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The choice of an insulin depends upon the condition of the patient. In emergencies such as diabetic coma, crystalline insulin (only soluble insulin) is preferred because of its quick onset of action. It is repeated at 6-hour intervals given intravenously usually, until the situation is under control. Crystalline insulin is also employed in combination with intermediate-acting insulin preparations for quick action. However, a dose of intermediate-acting insulins taken before breakfast is effective in controlling most cases of diabetes, other than some cases of juvenile diabetes, in which there is a marked rise in blood sugar during the night and in which, an additional evening dose may be needed. The use of long-acting preparations, with the hope of a single injection for controlling diabetes, has been disappointing and is not advocated. Premixed mixture of crystalline and lente insulin (Biphasic insulin) are convenient for tighter control of fasting and post meal blood glucose elevation. A large number of such preparations are available in the market. A convenient device is insulin pen (Nayolet) which has premixed insulin mixture and can be put into packet by executives or others who are on the move.

The dose varies with the severity of the condition and the response of the patient. Repeated estimation of blood sugar during the treatment is helpful in adjusting the doses. In general, the treatment is started with an intermediate-acting preparation and a dose of 10 to 15 units is given; 2/3 dose is given before breakfast and 1/3 dose before dinner. This is increased by 5 units per day with a constant monitoring of glucose levels of blood and urine till satisfactory control is achieved.

All the preparations of insulin are ineffective orally and have to be injected under the skin. Recently, computer-assisted, battery-driven implantable devices have become available, which inject insulin appropriate to the requirements (insulin pumps). Usually highly purified insulins are used in these devices. It will be a major breakthrough in this field if someone discovers a drug as effective as insulin that can be given orally.

Newer insulins are now available. They are 3 to 5 times more expensive. They have the advantage that insulin allergy, fat loss at the site of injection, and sometimes, fat accumulation, occur less frequently. The possibility of the formation of anti-insulin antibodies is also less.

The most common adverse effect is hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia may be caused by the delay or omission of meals or by unexpected exertion. The symptoms of hypoglycaemia include intense hunger, sweating, palpitation of the heart, tremors, weakness, and irritability. These symptoms can be recognized early and can be relieved by sugar, glucose or sweets in 10 to 20 minutes. If you are taking acarbose with insulin injection then use only glucose and not household sugar. It is to be noted that long standing diabetics may not notice all of these symptoms of low blood sugar.

Insulin may cause allergic reaction at the site of the injection, characterized by stinging and itching sensations associated with reddening and swelling of the skin. Generalized allergic reactions are rare. Human insulin does not cause allergic reactions. Repeated injections of insulin at the same site may cause depression or elevation at the injection site (Lipodystrophy). In rare cases patients may not respond to insulin (due to insulin resistance). These problems are uncommon with human insulins.

Use disposable insulin syringes only for insulin by self-infection.

Reduce the dose of insulin if a meal is likely to be missed or physical exertion is likely.

Take suger or glucose if any symptoms of hypoglycaemia appear.

Consult the doctor immediately if any allergic reaction occurs.

Rotate the site of insulin injection i.e start from one thigh, then rotate to abdominal wall then forearm then upper arm after one side rotate to the next side.

Most diabetics cannot escape from the ultimate reality: buying diabetic products.

The first of these is a diabetic glucose meter. Whether your sugar levels are high or low, you will need to monitor your glucose levels closely. If you are new to the condition, you may want to test your blood sugar levels 2-3 times a day. As you exercise food control and start regular exercise, you may have a better awareness of how to keep your blood glucose levels stable. Even when you are acclimatized to your body’s fluctuating glucose levels, you might feel comfortable keeping a precise count of your blood sugar levels.

There are different models of blood glucose meters available. Blood glucose meters are portable and give readings in under a few seconds. For most beginners, the best model is one that requires just a small drop of blood to give precise readings.

Another important diabetic product is the test strip. Test strips, lancets, wipes and sanitizing lotion make up the complete diabetic test kit. Having all these products grouped together as a kit makes it easy for you to move around without worrying about one or the other product.

Different kinds of syringes are available to help patients administer insulin safely and painlessly. Syringes are designed to ensure maximum comfort without compromising accuracy.

In addition to these, patients may also have to use certain specialized diabetic products that can become a part of the emergency kit. Glucose pens, glucose tablets and insulin are a part of the kit. Many patients also prefer to carry a medic alert bracelet. This is worn over the hand and it alerts emergency personnel of your diabetic condition.

It is important to keep in mind that diabetic products are being reinvented all the time. New products offer even more convenience and accuracy than before. Therefore, it makes sense to keep up with changing products. Even if you are quite satisfied with a particular product, you may need to change the device from time to time, as these products tend to lose accuracy over time.

If you are a diabetic, you can help yourself by keeping a regular tab over what is new in the market and whether the product is of help to you. Your aim should be to strike a balance between your needs, your finances and your convenience.

Unfortunately in countries where paramedic support is poor, Insulin treatment becomes more difficult. Most doctors prescribe Insulin but they have no time to train patients about taking Insulin shots. Very often an untrained person trains patients or they have to figure it out for themselves.

And so Insulin prick-related problems are common in these countries. Problems like lipohypertrophy, injection site marks, infections are more common.

One of the most important aspects of Insulin injection technique is injection site. Insulin should reach subcutaneous tissue, that is, the layer of fat below skin. So areas like the abdomen, outer side of thigh and arms are considered as good sites. Unfortunately, many patients still inject it into the forearm or calf region, which is not correct.

Apart from site, the next important thing is angle of injection. Earlier, longer needles of 12 mm were available and hence it was recommended to inject at 45-degree angle so as to avoid intramuscularly injection, particularly in individuals with a thin built. But nowadays, shorter needles of 5 to 6 mm are available. With these needles, it is best to inject Insulin at 90-degree angle.

Injection site rotation is yet another important concept. If Insulin is injected at same point then that area of skin becomes more fatty and this is called lipohypertrophy. Insulin injected into this area is absorbed slowly and erratically and this makes sugar control difficult. Since the prick in this area is painless, the patient prefers it but later on gets in trouble due to fluctuations in glucose levels. Thus, it is very important that a patient should inject at different points and should go on rotating injection sites.

Another focus should be on the site of injection and rate of Insulin absorption. Most of the studies show that absorption is most rapid at abdomen. Hence it is important that morning Insulin or short acting Insulin can be injected into abdomen while night insulin can be injected into thigh. Alternatively, all morning shots can be taken on abdomen while evening shots on thigh so as to make insulin absorption more consistent. This would avoid unexpected variation in insulin level due to injection site change.

Though needles are made for a single use, most people are reusing needles due to cost factor. Ideally a patient should not reuse a needle, but still if one has to, then consider a few points. Better not to reuse a needle more than three or four times. Do not boil it. In fact, do not touch the needle. Maintain personal hygiene and wash hands before injecting insulin.

With repetitive use,  the needle’s tip becomes blunt and it can cause injury to skin and create a point for bacterial entry, leading to infection. Thus, as a rule of thumb, if a needle hurts, do not reuse it.