Insulin may assist you in managing your blood sugar levels if lifestyle modifications and oral diabetes medicines haven’t been enough. However, insulin administration is a little more complicated than just shooting oneself a few times a day. It takes effort to figure out how much insulin to take and when to administer it.
These tools may assist you in staying on track with your insulin administration and delivery to help you better manage your type 2 diabetes.
Blood glucose meter
If you have type 2 diabetes, a blood glucose meter is a must-have tool, especially if you take insulin. Every few hours, checking your blood sugar levels can reveal how well your insulin works and whether you need to change the quantity or schedule of your injections.
A blood glucose meter measures blood glucose in a tiny drop of your blood. To prick your finger, use a lancet or other sharp instrument. Then place a drop of blood on the test strip and insert it into the device. The meter will tell you your blood sugar to determine whether it’s too low or too high.
Some glucose meters can communicate with your doctor and download test results to your computer. Over time, your doctor can examine your blood sugar readings and make necessary adjustments to your insulin regimen based on the findings. It’s helpful to note when you checked your blood sugar levels and what you’ve eaten recently.
Continuous blood glucose monitor
A continuous glucose meter functions similarly to a conventional glucose meter but is automated, so you don’t have to prick your finger frequently. Some continuous glucose monitoring systems, on the other hand, require that you calibrate the equipment by pricking your finger. These monitors provide a bird’s eye view of your blood sugar levels throughout the day and night, allowing you to fine-tune your therapy.
A tiny sensor placed beneath the skin of your belly or arm measures blood sugar levels in the fluid around your skin cells. A transmitter linked to the sensor transmits data on your blood sugar levels to a receiver, which records and displays it so you can share it with your doctor. The information from a continuous glucose monitor may be communicated or transmitted to an insulin pump to administer the cure.
Although continuous blood glucose monitoring is especially beneficial in persons with type 1 diabetes, the advantages of blood glucose monitoring are less evident in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Syringe
The most frequent way to administer insulin is with a syringe. It’s a plastic tube with a plunger on one end and a needle on the other containing insulin. Syringes come in various sizes based on how much insulin you require. The needles are available in different lengths and widths as well.
Insulin pen
An insulin pen is a small gadget that resembles a regular pen, but instead of ink, it contains insulin. Injections are given using an insulin pen rather than a syringe because they are more hygienic. If you don’t like syringes, an insulin pen may be a quicker and easier way to give yourself an injection.
A disposable insulin pen is preloaded with insulin. You discard the whole pen after use. Reusable pens have a replaceable insulin cartridge that you change after each usage.
To use an insulin pen, you must first enter the number of insulin units required. Then clean your skin with alcohol and insert the needle, pushing the button and holding it for 10 seconds to inject insulin into your body.
Insulin pump
An insulin pump is a viable alternative if you have to administer many doses of insulin each day. The pump is similar in size to a cell phone, fits into your pocket, or is worn around your waist, belt, or bra.
A catheter is a small tube inserted into your body via a needle beneath your abdomen’s skin. The pump delivers insulin through the catheter once placed in the device reservoir. Type 1 diabetes patients make use of this most often.
Jet injector
A jet injector may be the answer if you’re uncomfortable with needles or if needles make you uneasy. Without needles, this device uses high-pressure air to propel insulin through your skin into your circulation. Jet injectors, on the other hand, maybe pricey and more difficult to use than syringes or pens.
Edward James Letko is a medical device entrepreneur spearheading the innovation of insulin pumping devices for type 2 diabetes patients. The current options for insulin delivery are outdated and have many drawbacks, including patient discomfort and inaccurate dosing. Mr. Letko’s new design is more comfortable and easier to use, with an automatic dose adjustment feature that will make it safer and more accurate. His work offers hope to the millions of people with type 2 diabetes.
