We have seen a lot of our customers asking our experts about when do I take insulin? It becomes difficult sometimes. Hence, we are here to explain what are the little things that you must keep in mind and also when do you actually need to take insulin.

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Insulin in the first place is produced in your body, however, sometimes when there is a malfunction of the body in making that insulin, you suffer from diabetes. Ultimately, you need artificial insulin.

What is the connection between Insulin and Diabetes?

Before understanding “when do I take insulin” try knowing the link. It helps to control your blood glucose levels by indicating the muscle and liver as well as the fat cells to take in glucose from the blood.

Insulin takes help from cells to take in glucose to be used for energy. If the body has enough energy, insulin signals the liver to take the glucose up and store it as glycogen. The liver can store up to almost 5% of its mass as glycogen. Some cells in the body can take glucose from the blood cells without insulin, but most cells do require insulin to be present.

Get an answer to “When do I take Insulin”

It really depends on the type of insulin you are taking. If you take Regular insulin or longer-acting insulin, you should generally take it 15 to 30 minutes before a meal. If you take insulin lispro (brand name: Humalog), which works very quickly, you should generally take it less than 15 minutes before you eat.

You want to time your shot so that the glucose from your food gets into your system at about the same time that the insulin starts to work. This will help your body use glucose and avoid low blood sugar reactions.

For example, if you use rapid-acting insulin, you’d likely take it 10 minutes before or even with your meal. If you use regular- or intermediate-acting insulin, you should generally take it about a half-hour before your meals, or at bedtime. Follow your doctor’s advice.

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Does the type of diabetes matter about when do I take Insulin?

Sometimes, the type also matters when you should take Insulin. Here are some connections.

Insulin and Type 1 Diabetes

In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels.

Absence of insulin, many of the body’s cells that cannot take glucose from the blood and so the body uses other sources of energy.

Ketones which are made by the liver as another alternative source of energy, however, high levels of the ketones can lead to a dangerous condition which is called ketoacidosis.

People with type 1 diabetes will need to inject insulin to fulfill the requirement of the body’s lack of insulin.

Insulin and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the body when the body is not responding successfully to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. Resulting, the body is not completely capable to take up glucose from the blood. In the earlier stages of type 2 diabetes, the body responds by producing more insulin which would normally need by the body.

If type 2 diabetes progress over a number of years, the excess demands on the pancreas to make insulin which can lead to a loss of insulin-producing cells also called pancreatic beta cells as they wear out.

Depending on the level of insulin resistance, people who are having type 2 diabetes can also need to take insulin injections to manage the blood sugar levels.

We hope after reading this, you are aware of the answer to “When do I take insulin”. It usually happens that they are not aware of the types. You must make a doctor’s appointment booking. Choose GoMedii to get the quick booking of the doctor nearby done!

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