Nearly 1 in 3 people with type 2 diabetes will need insulin to successfully manage it. Â Some people who make major lifestyle changes and lose weight can eventually stop using insulin.
Make sure you take your insulin exactly as instructed without missing doses.
Always have a quick-acting sugar (like fruit juice) available in case your sugar ever goes below 70. Â Make sure you know how to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar.
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In general there are long-acting insulins and fast-acting insulins. Â Most people start with a long-acting or intermediate-acting insulin first, then add fast-acting insulin if needed.
- Long-acting insulin (such as Tresiba, Lantus, Toujeo, etc.) works all the time to keep your blood sugars controlled throughout the day and night.
- Rapid-acting insulin (such as Humalog, Novolog, Apidra, Fiasp, etc.) keeps your blood sugar from going high after a meal. Â You should only take this insulin right before you eat a meal with carbohydrates (including sweets).
Please refer back to your "Care Plan" in your Diabetes case for instructions on how often to check your blood sugar.
Usually:
- If you are on long-acting insulin, you should check your blood sugar before you eat in the morning (fasting) and before bed, or at other times during the day.
- If you are on mealtime or rapid insulin, you should check your blood sugar before you eat and sometimes 1 to 2 hours after meals.
Make sure you know what kind of insulin you have, how to safely use insulin, and how to monitor your blood sugar.
