Summary of Insulin and How To Use it Safely

UNDERSTANDING GLUCOSE HIGH BLOOD GLUCOSE

1. Starchy or sugary food

and drink, also named
carbohydrates, are broken
down in the gut into
simple sugars or glucose.

2. Glucose is then High blood glucose in Short-term episodes of

absorbed from the the long-term can lead extremely high blood
gut and transported to problems with your: glucose can be
in the bloodstream to dangerous and, if left
• Heart
the cells of the body untreated, lead to:
where it can be used. • Kidneys
• Coma
• Eyes
• Possibly even death
• Digestive system
Between meals and overnight, or when someone
is fasting, the body still needs energy. When • Skin
glucose levels start dropping in the blood, the • Blood circulation
pancreas produces another hormone, glucagon,
• Nerves
that signals to the body to release glucose from
its reserve to keep glucose levels stable.

INSULIN BASICS
When someone eats, a number of hormones are released in the body to help
manage the rise in glucose levels – insulin being the most important.
Insulin is a ‘key’ that unlocks the cell ‘door’ to allow glucose to move from the
bloodstream into the cell where it can be used for energy.
• Insulin is a hormone made by the body to help control glucose levels.
• Insulin is also a diabetes medication that can be injected to help make their
own insulin or effectively use it.
• People with type 1 diabetes will always need to take insulin as a medication
as they don’t make their own insulin.

INSULIN RESISTANCE
In people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes, the
body is usually still able to make its own insulin, but not
make effective use of it. This is sometimes called insulin
resistance.
The body has to produce large amounts of insulin to
overcome this resistance and keep glucose levels stable. Over
a long period of time living with type 2 diabetes, the body’s
ability to continue making large amounts of its own insulin
to the point that it is no longer able to overcome that
resistance. Insulin is then required to be injected as a
medication.
Summary of Insulin and How To Use it Safely

TESTING YOUR BLOOD GLUCOSE TYPES OF INSULIN AND WAYS TO TAKE IT

It is very important to keep glucose levels within a
tight range as the body, and especially the brain,
needs glucose for energy.
Keeping glucose levels stable also allows the body to
work normally. Too much or too little glucose in your
body can make you feel unwell.
Insulin is the key hormone to manage glucose levels.
Too much insulin will cause glucose levels to drop too
low. Too little insulin will cause glucose levels to be
too high.
Ways to Test Blood Glucose
• Insulin given once or twice a day, usually in the
morning and/or at bedtime, works slowly in the
background to help keep glucose stable between
meals and overnight.
• Insulin given before meals, works quickly to help
manage the rapid rise in glucose levels after eating.
• Some insulins are a mixture of the slow-acting
background and fast-acting meal-time insulin.
All insulins work differently, so it is best to only take the
insulin that is prescribed for you by your doctor.
 

 
    

STORING INSULIN
Injecting Insulin
• Insulin needs to be carefully stored between
injections. It can stop working if it gets too hot or
too cold.
• The insulin you are using can be kept at room
temperature and out of direct sunlight for about a
month.
• Insulin that you have been given, but not started
to use, should be kept in the fridge or in a cool
place, but not near the freezer or allowed to freeze. Insulin injected into your stomach or arm will be
more quickly absorbed.
If your clear insulin looks cloudy, has lumps or
crystals then throw it away. Do not use after expiry Insulin injected into your buttocks and thighs is
date. more slowly absorbed.
Important Note: It is recommended to discard (throw It is often better to inject your slow-acting
away) insulin that has been open for longer than a background insulin into your buttocks or thighs
month or if it has frozen or got too hot. and your fast-acting insulin into your stomach or
arm.
It is good not to use the same injection site all the
time as scar tissue and lumps might develop if you
use only one spot. Avoid using any lumpy or
scared areas, if possible.

Supported by
Resources & References
Here are a few helpful sites
where you can continue
to find more information:

The IDF general website The IDF School of Diabetes website

https://www.idf.org https://www.idfdiabeteschool.org