Insulin therapy in Type 2 diabetes

It is important to remember that Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition. Managing your diabetes will involve a journey of treatment. This begins with changes to your diet and pattern of exercise. As time goes by, most people have to start taking tablets, need to combine treatments, and eventually start having insulin therapy. If you have Type 2 diabetes, either your body does not produce enough insulin or its cells do not use the insulin properly. The goal of insulin therapy is to replace the insulin your body used to produce naturally with insulin injections.

It is natural to be worried about the prospect of injecting yourself, particularly when you first start using insulin. Having an injection is never going to be pleasurable and they can be painful/not painful. However, many people with diabetes eventually find that their injections are virtually pain free. Your diabetes healthcare team will be able to guide you through how to use insulin and there are lots of ways of reducing the pain out of injections that will make your insulin therapy as comfortable as possible.

It can be difficult to mentally adjust to injecting insulin during the early stages of insulin therapy. You may be worried that the injections will interfere with how you want to live your life. Most people find that in a short time they develop a new routine that includes their insulin therapy and they continue to lead a flexible, full life.

If you are feeling guilty or worried about the prospect of insulin treatment, it is important to share your concerns with your diabetes healthcare team. They will be able to guide you through the reasons why you need insulin, how to administer the treatment comfortably, and the best way to incorporate it into your daily routine.