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.

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.

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.

Adrian Adams asked:


Those who suffer with diabetes have to take the hormone insulin in order to control blood glucose or sugar. You cannot take insulin by way of mouth because it is destroyed by the digestive system before it is able to reach its mark. There are a few devices that deliver insulin to diabetics and it is usually up to the individual the type of delivery system they prefer.

Researchers are working hard every day so that those who suffer with diabetes in the future don’t have to use a needle to get the insulin they need. They are constantly testing new ways to introduce insulin into the blood stream of patients who require it.

Different Types of Delivery Devices

At present, the only way to effectively take insulin into the body is through the fatty tissue of the skin. It is not particularly painful, but for those who are queasy around needles, taking their daily dose of insulin can be something that is looked upon with much trepidation.

Using a Syringe

The most common device used to deliver a patient their insulin is with a syringe. Syringes used for insulin injection are small and sharp hypodermic needles. Most of the syringes come coated with a special substance to make injecting the needle into the skin less painful. Insulin syringes com in a variety of sizes and dosages.

The Insulin Pen

At first glance, you might mistake the insulin pen for a conventional cartridge ink pen. Instead of ink, these cartridges are filled with insulin. Many diabetics prefer this delivery method. The ease and convenience of an insulin pen is the attraction for most users. You can purchase an insulin pen that can be refilled, or you can choose a model that can be discarded after the cartridge is finished.

Dosing is easy as well. The tip of the pen resembles that of an insulin syringe. You simply turn the dial and select the proper dosage prescribed for you. You then press the plunger to deliver the dose of insulin under your skin.

Using the Jet Injector Method

As we mentioned, there are many people that are uncomfortable using needles. Those people have the option to use the jet injector to deliver their insulin. The device is quite futuristic, bringing to mind the injections the crew received on the television show, Star Trek, in that they deliver the insulin by way of high pressure air. It sends the insulin using a fine spray that is delivered through the skin.

The Use of Insulin Pumps

This is a small device that is worn outside of the body. It is connected by tubing that is flexible and is inserted in the abdomen. It is easily programmed to dispense the proper amount of insulin. Typically, the patient will program the pump to deliver a steady dose of insulin. You can adjust it if more insulin is needed at a particular time. Those using an insulin pump as a delivery device should keep in mind that you can injure yourself or the insulin pump if it is worn when you are engaged in physical activity.



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