Over the years, type 2 diabetes have developed into an epidemic all around the world. Unfortunately, it is a serious problem, which can lead to terrible problems if left untreated. With this in mind, it is absolutely pertinent to do everything in your power to treat your type 2 diabetes. It is possible to treat the problem with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise and the right medications. There are many different types of insulin medications and they all work differently. Within this in-depth guide, you will learn all about type 2 diabetes and the medications that can combat it.

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes

It is wise to better familiarize yourself with type 2 diabetes. What is it exactly and what will it do to the body? This problem is associated with the blood glucose or sugar levels inside of the body. It causes these levels to rise higher than normal. This is often referred to as hyperglycemia. There are two types of diabetes. Type 2 just happens to be the most common. When you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t know how to use insulin properly. This creates an insulin resistance. If type 2 diabetes is not treated correctly, it can lead to serious problems and even death.

Common Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

Before learning about the different types of insulin medications, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes. What actually happens when you’re suffering from this problem? Well, if you take the right medications, you shouldn’t experience any negative side effects whatsoever. If you do not keep your sugar levels under control, you’ll begin to experience numbness in your hands and feet. You’ll also experience and increased thirst and hunger, more frequent urination, fatigue, and even blurred vision.

Failing to care for this problem can eventually lead to death. Suffice to say, it is absolutely essential to monitor your blood sugar levels and treat the problem with the appropriate medications.

How Type 2 Diabetes Is Diagnosed

In order to confirm that you’re suffering from type 2 diabetes, your doctor will give you a test. It is possible to diagnose the problem using several tests, including the Glycated hemoglobin test, random blood sugar test, fasting blood sugar test or the oral glucose tolerance test. Each test can provide you with the answers that you need when you need them. When it comes to the oral glucose tolerance test, normal people will have a blood sugar level below 140 mg/dL. If your levels are between 140 and 199, there is a good chance that you’re suffering from prediabetes.

If you have a reading of 200 or higher, you probably have diabetes. Speak with your doctor to find out which test is right for you.

What You Should Do If You Are Diagnosed With Type II Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, there is a good chance that you already know that your blood sugar levels are too high. Unfortunately, your body just doesn’t have the insulin resistance of a normal individual. While your pancreas can’t create insulin it is possible that it can’t create enough to resolve your complications. The rate of diabetes diagnosis is increasing throughout the U.S., which is making the disease a very serious one. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes there are a variety of precautions that you should undertake to ensure that your body remains healthy. What are these precautions?

Acquiring Mental Health Coaching

When it comes to Type II diabetes, depression is more common than what you may believe. Depression is a very serious mental disease that can interfere with the way you care for yourself and the individuals around you. In fact, depression can reduce your motivation to exercise, eat healthy, and take medications. These things are without a doubt some of the most crucial steps when it comes to managing your disease. In addition to this, taking the proper medications and exercising daily could reduce your blood sugar levels and increase your mental health, which is critical when it comes to dealing with Type II diabetes.

Different Types of Insulin Drugs

While people with Type II diabetes do not always need to utilize insulin to control their blood glucose levels, it is important for them to become familiar with the drug. There are four types of insulin, including rapid acting, short acting, intermediate acting and long acting. Each type of insulin lasts for and begins working over a specific period of time. For instance, Humalog, a fast-acting insulin, begins working within 15 minutes after the initial injection. The peak time for fast acting insulin is approximately one hour and it will continue working for up to four hours.

  • Short Acting Insulin – is typically administered immediately or up to 30 minutes prior to meals, leading to lower blood glucose levels after food is consumed. This type of insulin is almost as effective as regular human insulin. Short acting insulin works by controlling the metabolism and storage of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in the body. It begins working approximately 30 minutes after the initial injection and will continue working for up to 12 hours. Its peak time can be anywhere from 2.5 and five hours.
  • Intermediate Acting Insulin – is often mixed with rapid acting and regular insulin to control blood glucose levels. However, since this type of insulin is cloudy, it must be drawn into the syringe after the Humalog, NovoLog and regular insulin. Intermediate acting insulin begins working within one to two hours after the initial injection and will continue working for up to 24 hours. Its peak time is anywhere from four and 12 hours and onset is between one to two hours. Before administering intermediate acting inulin, it is crucial to rotate the vial up and down several times, because the cloudy material will settle at the bottom of the reservoir.
  • Long Acting Insulin – begins working within four hours of the initial injection and will continue working for up to 24 hours. The peak time for long acting insulin is anywhere from three to nine hours. This type of insulin is colorless and clear and each milliliter contains 100 units of insulin detemir.

How To Properly Administer Insulin?

When patients are first diagnosed with Type II diabetes, their physician will prepare them by giving them a brief educational course on proper administration. Of course, in the beginning you will experience some level of fear, since the administration involves injecting the solution into your body. Over time you will become familiar with the task and will not think twice about administering the drug into your fatty tissue.

The first step of the process involves cleaning the tip of the vial with alcohol wipes or balls. Unwrap the syringe and remove the cap. Inject the tip of the needle into the vial and withdraw the appropriate dosage amount, making sure all air bubbles have disappeared. Once you achieve the appropriate dosage, you should then wash your hands with soap and water. Choose an injection site and clean it with an alcohol wipe. Gently pinch the skinfold and insert the insulin needle into the skin at a 90 degree angle or straight up and down. Push the plunger to release the insulin into the skin and quickly pull it back out. Never rub the injection site, just dab it with the alcohol wipe you previously utilized to clean the site.

Once the injection is complete, you can utilize a Band-Aid to cover the area, if it continues to bleed. Monitor the site for signs of infection and frequently rotate sites to prevent irritation and pain.

Different Insulin Medications

It is possible to achieve the right blood sugar levels through dieting and exercise alone. Nevertheless, a lot of patients will be required to take medications. There are many different types of insulin medications and they’re all unique in one way or another. Below, you will learn a little more about the most common medications.

Glumetza

Glumetza is a medication that contains metformin. It is utilized for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It should not be utilized by patients suffering from type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. For these individuals, the medication would be ineffective. Those that are new to Glumetza should take 500 milligrams of the medication orally once a day. It is recommended that you take the medication with your evening meal. If a higher dose is needed, your doctor will increase the dose in 500 milligram increments ever one or two weeks.

Januvia

Januvia is considered a DPP-4 inhibitor. It is designed to reduce the user’s blood sugar levels. Another of the things about DPP-4 inhibitors, such as Januvia, is the fact that they do not cause the user to gain weight. This is one of the main reasons that Januvia is such a popular product sold by Canadian Insulin. The medication is capable of regulating the levels of insulin in the user’s body after they’ve consumed food. It is sometimes possible to use Januvia with other medications. However, it should never be used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Also, remember that you should not take Januvia if you’re suffering from heart problems, kidney disease, gallstones or have a history of alcoholism. Speak with your doctor to determine whether or not Januvia is right for you.

Humalog

If you need to lower your insulin levels as quickly as possible, you should consider using Humalog. This fast-acting insulin is capable of lowering glucose levels rapidly. After you’ve injected Humalog, it will take about fifteen minutes before it starts working. It speaks in approximately one hour but will continue working for two to four hours. This medication is effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults and diabetes mellitus in adults and children. It can also be used to treat type 1 diabetes in adults and children.

Remember that Humalog should be used as a part of a comprehensive treatment. This should include dieting and exercise. It is also pertinent to take care of your eyes, feet and teeth when suffering from diabetes.

Apidra

Apidra is a type of insulin pen. This specific type of insulin medication is capable of lowering the levels of sugar inside of the user’s body. Again, it is a fast-acting insulin. It will usually begin working in 15 minutes. It’ll peak in an hour yet will continue working for 2 to 4 hours after the injection. This medication is effective for the treatment of type 1 and 2 diabetes. It is recommended that you use this insulin medication fifteen or twenty minutes after you begin eating. Remember to never share your injection pen or syringe with anyone!

If you’re experiencing hypoglycemia, you should not use Apidra.

Novolog

NovoLog is another fast-acting insulin. Like some of the aforementioned insulins, this one will begin working in roughly 15 minutes. Again, it peaks in 1 hour and continues working for up to 4 hours. It works by lowering the levels of sugar inside of the body. Sometimes, NovoLog is used in conjunction with long-acting or intermediate-acting insulin to get the results that are needed. It can be used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes. It is also safe for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, as long as the children are at least two years old.

Before taking NovoLog, you should speak with your doctor. Let them know if you have liver or kidney disease. You should also make them aware if you experience bouts of hypokalemia. Be cautious and never share your syringes or pens with anyone else!

Invokana

If you do not like needles, you should investigate Invokana. This oral diabetes medication is a great alternative to needles and injection pens. It allows the user to maintain control over their blood sugar levels. This medication helps the kidneys remove glucose from the user’s bloodstream. It works exceptionally well for type 2 diabetes mellitus when combined with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. This medication is not used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. If you’re on dialysis or have severe kidney disease, you should not use Invokana.

This medication is generally consumed once a day. Be sure to follow the directions on the label and the instructions provided by your doctor!