Insulin myths & rumours

Most of the reasons why people don't want to use insulin are rooted in myths and folklore. Diabetes is a condition that runs through families. Lots of people are put off insulin therapy because they remember an older relative developing serious health problems whilst taking insulin. It is likely that most of the problems they experienced weren't the side effects of insulin therapy but the symptoms of untreated diabetes.

If you have been prescribed insulin, it is important to discuss any concerns you have with your diabetes healthcare team. You may have some fears about how it could affect you health and your life. However, most of these fears are rooted in the following myths that can be busted.

• Insulin therapy causes serious health problems - It is not insulin therapy but untreated diabetes that leads to health complications. If you have been prescribed insulin, the sooner you take it the less likely it is that you will experience the long-term health complications that have been linked to diabetes.
• Insulin therapy will make me put on weight - Insulin therapy has a similar impact on your weight as the oral treatments you have probably already been taking. Ask to see a dietician, who will explain how you can keep weight gain to a minimum through diet and exercise.
• Once I start, I will be on insulin for the rest of my life - This is not true in all cases. Some people take insulin for a short time to treat hyperglycaemia. However, many people do continue to take it for the remainder of their lives.
• Insulin therapy is complicated and inconvenient - It can be inconvenient if you are using short-acting regular insulin, which has to be injected 30-45 minutes before meals. However, if you are using a rapid-acting insulin, you do not need to plan ahead and can inject immediately before eating. Most people find that they develop a routine that includes their insulin therapy with little disruption to their lifestyle. It is important to remember that the complications arising from untreated diabetes are likely to be far more inconvenient than insulin therapy.
• If I use insulin therapy, people will think I am disabled - Irrespective of what some people think, using insulin does not mean you are disabled. However, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious disabilities.
• Insulin injections are painful - Insulin therapy is much less painful than other types of injections and there are lots of ways of reducing the pain of injections. Over time, many people say that their insulin therapy is painless and manageable.