Plan For Success
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Insulin helps control blood
sugar levels
Insulin is a hormone that’s naturally produced
in the body. It’s the key that unlocks the cells and allows blood sugar to enter
and be converted into energy. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make
enough insulin and/or your body doesn’t properly use the insulin it does make. Initially, doctors usually prescribe diet, exercise, and oral medications to help control blood sugar. But
as type 2 diabetes progresses, it typically gets harder to manage over time. Sometimes
a regimen of diet, exercise, and medications that worked in the past will no longer
be as effective. Adding insulin may help. Insulin replaces what your body isn’t
making enough of.
Some people may feel as if they’ve personally failed when they begin taking insulin.
They shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed. Instead, they should feel good about taking
the right steps toward finding a treatment plan that may work better for them. In fact, for people with diabetes, insulin is the most effective way to control blood sugar levels, along with eating healthy, exercising, and other diabetes medications.
DR. JOHN ANDERSON: Internal Medicine, Diabetes Expert
"Support is one of the most important parts of diabetes management. Take all the
tips, tools, and advice you can. You're not in this alone. Those who depend on you
are rooting for you."
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Did you know?
Insulin is the most effective way to control blood sugar. It’s proven to give people a greater percentage point decrease in A1C than any other diabetes medication alone.
Type 2 diabetes gets harder to manage over time and needs to be treated.
The earlier you get your blood sugar under control, the greater the chance of preventing or reducing the risk of long-term complications. In fact, the American Diabetes Association
and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists agree that treatment should
be changed within 2 to 3 months if the A1C goal set by your doctor has not been
reached.
Remember, if you reduce your A1C levels by just 1 percentage point, you can decrease
your risk of diabetes-related long-term complications by 21%. By adding insulin to your treatment
plan of diet, exercise, and oral medications, you’ll be taking advantage of the
most effective option available to control blood sugar, which may help you reach
your A1C goal. And today, with all the benefits of the insulin pen, it's easier to take insulin.
Important Safety Information About Insulin
The most common side effect of insulin is low blood sugar. Some people may experience
symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision, while some
experience no symptoms at all. That’s why it’s important to check your blood sugar
often.