Like many hormones that are being produced by our body everyday, insulin is also one of them. There are chances that you might be already aware of insulin and the effects of it on our body. But if you don’t know them then there is nothing to worry about as we are here to help you in this regard.
However our topic of discussion will not remain limited to the normal insulin produced by our body but instead we will be conversing on the insulin injections that are used by the diabetic patients these days.
So without wasting a further ado, let us delve into the topic of concern and discover everything about insulin.
Table of Contents
Overview,
Insulin is the hormone produced by your pancreas. This hormone is released in response to blood’s sugar or glucose levels. That means the more glucose in blood the more insulin will be produced to convert the glucose into other forms that can be used as energy sources in the future.
The amount of insulin is therefore regulated in the body by the amount of food or technically speaking the amount of glucose in the food. According to recent studies, normal insulin levels have a great physiological effect on your body from liver, skeletal muscles to kidneys.
So Where is the Problem?
But there are certain conditions where the normal amount of insulin is not produced due to one reason or another and even if it is produced then it will not be able to convert the glucose into other usable forms. The conditions are coined as diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2 respectively. According to the World Health Organisation, the number of diabetic patients have increased to 422 million in 2014 and the number is increasing with no setbacks reported so far.
There are several other health conditions like eating disorders which can affect the normal levels of insulin in the body.
So what does this excess glucose do to your body?
The excessive amount of glucose in the body and in the blood is dangerous as it can increase the risks of hypertension, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
Therefore, in both of these conditions the patients are dependent on the external insulin so that they can continue with the normal daily activities. Thanks to the advancements in the biotechnology sector that has provided mankind with insulin.
Human Insulin Solution
Insulin is prepared commercially in industries and is administered to diabetic patients regularly. This human insulin solution comes in varieties of forms and potencies.
The ones which are commonly used in Pakistan include Humulin, Actrapid and Novolog.
These types broadly differ in the potencies and they also differ in the duration of efficacy. There are other types of insulin available in the market that have different duration of efficacy.
Some should be used several times a day and there are some that can be used just for once to spend the whole day. Which type of insulin now suits you the best is totally the doctor’s call! There are a bunch of tests and other health conditions that will help your doctor or healthcare provider to arrive at a final solution.
Related: Get your sugar levels checked today through our website Blood Glucose Test
The important thing to consider is that once you start using insulin solution then it should be continued for the rest of life. Don’t skip the medication on your own. Always consult with your doctor first and get yourself aware of all the possible options.
Available Options of Insulin
Now coming to the topic of how this insulin is used? And what are the available methods by which this insulin can be used?
Well there are 2 common ways of using this insulin. Insulin is available either in vials or in cartridges.
Insulin in vials:
Insulin from vials is used by filling the desired amount in syringes. The syringes are of varied sizes but the most recent studies have found that the size of syringe is least important or to put in other words, if you want to use 8mm or even a 6mm injection it will be effectively curative.
These injections are subcutaneously (under the skin) used. The common sites used for insulin administration by syringes include
- Abdomen
- Thigh
- Arms.
Insulin Injections
The other method of cartridges is administered by injectable pens. These pens make the puncture in the skin by the needle on top and then insulin is injected in the body.
Things to Remember while Using Insulin Injections:
Moderate Temperature:
It is the best approach to keep the insulin injection and the insulin solution at a moderate temperature. But the best practice is to keep insulin solution in the refrigerator. This will improve the shelf life of insulin and will help to keep the effectiveness of insulin maintained.
Rotate the Insulin Injection Places:
If you are using insulin injection on the same site for a longer period of time then there are chances that the skin site may become lumpy and hard. This is because excess collagen, fat cells and scar tissues are produced by the body to fill up the piercing.
The lump may feel hard and have deleterious effects. These lumps can interfere with the dose of insulin making the person susceptible to many other diseases. The term is called lipohypertrophy and it affects nearly 64% of the diabteic population.
Keep a Check on your Glucose Levels:
It is essential to keep a check on your glucose levels even if you are using insulin injections. There are chances that you are not using the insulin injections properly. So the desired amount of drug will not enter the body. There will be no benefit in taking this artificial insulin if your body’s glucose levels are not improving. So it is necessary to keep a record on glucose levels. See your doctor if you feel that your glucose levels are not improving.
Side Effects of Insulin:
The thing that should be considered is that your healthcare providers always suggest some medications when the number of possible advantages are higher than the number of side effects.
Though insulin is safe to administer and there are no severe side effects seen or reported in patients. There are some possible side effects that can be observed if you have just started taking insulin injections.
- Swelling of arms and legs
- Rapid heart rate
- Blurred vision
- Weight gain
- And in some cases low blood glucose levels(hypoglycemia).
There are some side effects of insulin at the injection sites which may include
- Redness.
- Itching.
- Skin hardening at the injection site.
What’s the Takeaway?
Diabetes without any doubt is a leading disease around the globe. With more and more people falling into this life long disease, it is essential to take necessary precautions and to keep yourself checked of the glucose levels. It’s about time that we should make collective efforts in controlling this disease worldwide. Make an appointment today with the best general physician and discuss your health issues so that they can be treated. To read more on health care issues, visit our website healthwire.pk
