Insulin, this word creates panic among almost all Diabetic patients ( Whether Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes)
As a Diabetologist, I see many Diabetic patients coming to me, controlled or Uncontrolled. Most of them have these questions in mind.
Do I need Insulin?
Will my insulin be started?
Can, my insulin be stopped?
Can, I switch back to oral medications?
How long will my insulin continue?
TO ANSWER THIS, LET US KNOW, WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make.
So, Broadly Diabetes can be divided into :
Type 1 Diabetes ( Earlier known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes) and
Type 2 Diabetes ( Earlier known as Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes)
As the earlier name suggests, in Type 1 Diabetes , body is unable to produce insulin and thus needs an external source of Insulin to combat high sugars and unfortunately Insulin from an external source can only be given through injections and thus, Type 1 Diabetics needs multiple shots of Insulin to control sugars..
In contrast, Type 2 Diabetics have adequate insulin production or rather high insulin production at the start of disease but that insulin produced is not effectively utilised by the body.
So, the question comes why Type 2 Diabetics need Insulin?
This is because, as the body senses high sugars (Ineffective insulin, unable to control it), it tries to bring it back to normal range by producing more and more insulin and thus exhausting the production hub of insulin ( known as Beta Cells), which over time is depleted and hence in Type 2 Diabetes over a period of time, Insulin production starts declining and the pathology of INEFFECTIVE INSULIN ALSO MOVES TO INSUFFICIENT INSULIN and thus, Type 2 Diabetics might needs Insulin.
But fortunately, with a wide variety of oral drugs for Type 2 Diabetics, Insulin initiation can be delayed but unnecessary delay even after your Diabetologist advise should be avoided.
SO COMING BACK TO QUESTIONS
Do I need Insulin? Type 1- Yes, only treatment modality available.
Type 2- Considering the nature of disease, you might need it over a period of time
Will my insulin be started? Type 1- At the time of Diagnosis
Type 2- Not necessarily
Can, my insulin be stopped? Type 1- No (Only treatment option available right now)
Type 2- Can be stopped, if started for acute control of sugars, or you have worked on your weight, your diet and your activity levels (Don't push your Diabetologist for the same, let them take the call)
Can, I switch back to oral medications? Type 1- No
Type 2- Already explained
How long will my insulin continue? Type 1- Lifelong
Type 2- Variable answer, but usually once started it really helps in better management of sugars, thus should be continued.
TALK TO YOUR DIABETOLOGIST AND DISCUSS INSULIN
RUNNING AWAY FROM IT WILL ONLY HELP THE DISEASE.