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Over the years I have worked with many
clients who have a fear of insulin and will do whatever they can to
avoid starting it. Some of you may not subscribe to the Diabetes
Forecast magazine, so I requested permission from them to share this
article with you.
INSULIN HAS a bad rep. Many people
with type 2 diabetes try to avoid starting insulin for as long as
possible. They fear it may do them more harm than good.
But much of what people “know” about
insulin is actually myth. Here are some common disbeliefs about
insulin.
Myth 1: Needing insulin means
I’ve failed. Fact: Most people with type 2 diabetes sooner or later
end up on insulin—even if they follow their treatment program to the
letter every single day.
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive
disease. Over time, people tend to produce less insulin and become
more insulin resistant. As a result, treatments that help early
on—diet, exercise, or diabetes pills—usually become less effective
later, and insulin becomes necessary.
Myth 2: Insulin causes
complications. Fact: If insulin improves control, it can actually
prevent complications.
The longer you’ve had diabetes, the
more likely you are to develop complications. The longer you’ve had
type 2 diabetes, the more likely you are to need insulin. It’s no
wonder complications and insulin use seem to go together. But
neither causes the other.
Good blood glucose control slows or
prevents the development of complications. Adding insulin to your
treatment can improve your control and so lead to fewer
complications than you would have had otherwise.
Myth 3: Taking insulin means
you have more severe diabetes. Fact: Type 2 diabetes is always a
disease to take seriously, no matter how you treat it. Diabetes
raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, some cancers, and other
conditions. You can lower these risks by keeping your diabetes under
good control with diet and exercise, pills, insulin, or all of these
combined.
Myth 4: insulin shots are
scary and painful. Fact: Yes, insulin shots can be scary at first,
and yes, they might pinch some. But your fear will go away as shots
become part of your daily routine. Also, insulin shots are now
virtually painless, because of today’s ultrafine needles with smooth
coatings. Plus, insulin can be injected into areas (such as the
stomach) relatively poor in nerve endings, further reducing the risk
of pain.
Myth 5: Insulin won’t improve
my life or health. Fact: Going on insulin when you need to will
likely make you feel better now and improve your health long-term.
Insulin is the fastest and most effective way to lower blood glucose
levels. If your doctor suggests that you start insulin therapy, he
or she believes that you will get better control with insulin than
with other treatments. Better control often results in higher energy
levels, fewer bouts of blurry vision, fewer bathroom visits in the
middle of the night, and slowed progression of any complications you
might already have.
Myth 6: Insulin will restrict
my life. Fact: Let’s face it: However you control your diabetes, it
places restrictions on your life. But insulin may actually free you
from some of your current restrictions (depending on what type of
insulin and schedule your doctor chooses). Some people with type 2
diabetes can manage their diabetes with just one bedtime shot of
insulin a day. Insulin treatment may allow you more flexibility in
your diet and exercise and may free you from needing to remember to
take pills several times a day.
Myth 7: I’ll have many low
blood glucose episodes. Fact: Severe hypoglycemia (too-low blood
glucose levels) is rare in people with type 2 diabetes. In addition,
long-acting, once-daily insulin results in lower rates of
hypoglycemia than other insulins. One of these long-acting insulins
may be right for you. Your diabetes care team can teach you what
precautions to take. By following their advice and regularly
monitoring your blood glucose levels, you can avoid serious
reactions.
Myth 8: Insulin will make me
fat. Fact: By carefully regulating your insulin dosage, eating a
healthier diet, and exercising more, you can keep off extra pounds
when switching to insulin. But you will have to make some of these
changes to be successful, because insulin does help the body store
excess calories more efficiently.
Myth 9: Once I start insulin,
I’ll never get off. Fact: For some people with type 2, insulin is a
temporary measure—for example, they many only need to take it when
they are first diagnosed or when they are in the hospital. Insulin
brings very high glucose levels down quickly. Once a person’s blood
glucose levels are under good control, it may be possible to cut
down on the dose or stop it altogether. Losing weight also reduces
the body’s need for insulin, enabling some people to stop taking
insulin shots entirely.
Myth 10: Insulin cures
diabetes. Fact: There currently is no cure for diabetes. Insulin is
a treatment—a very effective treatment, but a treatment nonetheless.
It works only as long as you are using it.
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