Discussing  Diabetes  and Insulin with Your Doctor

Insulin is often a difficult subject to talk about. But even with diet, exercise and oral diabetes medications, you may not be getting the blood sugar control that you should. If your current diabetes treatment plan isn't helping you achieve your blood sugar goals, it may be time to discuss insulin.

Talking Important Tips

How well you talk with your doctor is an important part of good healthcare. To find out if insulin could be the right choice for you, it may be necessary for you to start the discussion. To make sure you get the most out of a talk with your doctor, consider these tips:

• Ask your doctor to go over your A1C results with you. Show your doctor your blood sugar log. Are the numbers where you and your doctor want them to be?
• Express your concerns about taking insulin. Ask questions!
• Bring a list of all medications you are currently taking, including supplements and herbal products, as these may affect the way insulin or your current medications work.
• Create an Insulin Discussion Guide to take with you. Time with your doctor may be limited. A list is a good way to remember to ask all of your questions.

Your healthcare team can answer any questions you have. Speak openly and honestly about your diabetes treatment plan and your health and  you and your doctor can decide if adding insulin to your overall diabetes treatment plan is right for you.

The A1C Test

Your doctor performs the A1C test to check your average blood sugar (glucose) levels. This blood test (also called an HbA1c test or Hemoglobin A1c) measures the amount of glucose attached to your red blood cells.

How the A1C Test Works

In your bloodstream, sugar attaches to your red blood cells. The more sugar in your blood and the longer the level remains high, the more sugar attaches to the red blood cells. The A1C test measures the amount of sugar. By doing this, it gives you an overall "snapshot" of how well your blood sugar control has been for the past 2-3 months.

Recommended A1C Levels

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests working toward a goal of an A1C level below 7%. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) encourages even tighter control. The AACE recommends a target A1C of less than or equal to 6.5%.

Why Are Your A1C Scores Important?

Keeping your levels under control over time may reduce the risk of developing long-term diabetes-related complications. Your doctor will work with you to decide what your goals should be.

According to a 2008 statement of consensus between the ADA and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, when A1C levels are above or equal to 7%, a change of treatment should be initiated with the goal of achieving an A1C level of less than 7%.

If your A1C levels are above 7%, it may be time to ask you doctor if insulin would be beneficial to you.

The A1C and Daily Checking

It's important to use both the A1C test and daily checking to track your blood sugar levels. These test results give you and your healthcare team an overall picture of your blood sugar control. And together they will help you and your doctor determine if your diabetes care plan is working well. Both these results are tools that can give you the information you need to make decisions about your treatment needs.

Blood Sugar Log

A blood sugar log lets you record your readings when you check your blood sugar. This gives your healthcare team a record to analyze so they can determine how well your blood sugar levels are being managed.

The template we provide lets you track your blood sugar levels for a week. At the top, write the target levels your healthcare team has given you. Be sure to include notes to explain high and low blood sugars. This information will be helpful to your healthcare team in evaluating your blood sugar management.

Insulin Discussion Guide

Is your current diabetes treatment plan helping you manage your blood sugar levels as well as you and your healthcare team would like? If not, adding insulin may help you reach your blood sugar goals. The first step is to talk with your doctor to find out if insulin may be right for you.

Using the Discussion Guide

Time with your doctor may be limited. So, a list is a good way to make sure that you remember to ask all your questions. To help you, use our Insulin Discussion Guide. It lets you choose the questions you want to ask your doctor. Select your questions, and then print out your personalized discussion guide to take with you on your next doctor's visit.

Important Safety Information for Insulin

Possible side effects may include blood sugar levels that are too low, injection site reactions, and allergic reactions, including itching and rash.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines and supplements you are taking because they could change the way insulin works. Glucose monitoring is
recommended for all patients with diabetes.

The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes only. Your healthcare professional is the single best
source of information regarding your health. Please consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your health or
treatment.

If you have type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor and call 1866GOINSULIN.
QUESTIONS ABOUT STARTING INSULIN
Is my A1C level higher than 7% (or the personal goal set by my
healthcare team)?

Have I done everything (healthy eating, exercise, oral diabetes
medications) that I can to reach my targeted A1C goal?
Why isn't it enough to take oral diabetes medications alone?
Would adding insulin to my diabetes treatment plan be right for me?
What insulin types might be right for me?
QUESTIONS ABOUT TAKING INSULIN

Which method (syringe, pump or pen) for taking insulin would be
best for me?
How will I learn to inject insulin and is it difficult?
What time of the day should I take insulin?
Do I need to eat before or after taking insulin?
How long does it take for insulin to start working?
Where should insulin be stored?
How often will I need to check my blood sugar levels?
What are my blood sugar goals?
CONCERNS ABOUT USING INSULIN
How will insulin affect my oral diabetes medications?
Will my other medications require me to adjust my insulin? (Be sure
to give your doctor a list of all your current medications)
Can insulin cause me to have low blood sugar?
Will I gain weight?
Will I have to change my lifestyle (hobbies, job, etc.) if I start taking
insulin?
How will my meal planning be affected?
If I don't like insulin, can I stop taking it?
If you have questions not on the
list, be sure to write them in the
space below.

17-03-2010, 00:00 Geschreven door diabetesinsiders  

Insulin Myths and Realities

Insulin. The word alone can make people uneasy. No matter what you think you may know about insulin, chances are you don't know the whole story. Test your knowledge today.

	Taking insulin is all I need to do to control my blood sugar.
	Insulin should be a part of an overall diabetes treatment plan, which includes diet, exercise, and other diabetes medications.

	Having to take insulin means I have failed and that my diabetes is getting worse.
	No, you haven't failed at all. Diabetes is a disease that gets harder to manage over time. Adding insulin isn't a sign of failure. It replaces what your body isn't making naturally to help control blood sugar. If diet, exercise, and oral diabetes medications are not bringing your blood sugar levels under control, insulin may help. It may be an important tool in gaining blood sugar control, which is important to your overall health.
	Insulin should be considered as a last option for treating diabetes.
	Insulin does not have to be the last option you and your doctor consider. Your guide should be your A1C level. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests your level should be less than 7%. If it is above that – or above the goal your doctor set for you – ask your doctor about insulin.
	Taking insulin can be as routine as brushing your teeth.
	Many people fear that taking insulin will interfere with their daily schedules. But patients on insulin often say that their routines have not changed much since starting insulin.
	Taking insulin injections will be painful.
	Many patients are surprised when they see how small and thin the needle is. Also, many insulins come in small, easy-to-use insulin pens that make taking insulin more convenient.
	Insulin may be started at any time to help control your blood sugar.
	Insulin does not mean that you are "at the end of the road." In fact, the ADA treatment guidelines suggest you add insulin earlier if diet, exercise, and pills alone do not offer enough blood sugar control. Insulin does not have to be the last option.
	Insulin will make me gain a lot of weight.
	The benefit of helping to manage your blood sugar with insulin outweighs the risk of some weight gain. Some people find that they do put on a few pounds when they begin taking insulin. But following a meal plan and exercise program may help. Taking insulin turns calories into energy for your body. Because lost calories are absorbed by your body, some weight gain is possible.
	Insulin is dangerous.
	Like any medicine, insulin may have side effects such as low blood sugar. So ask your doctor how to take it. Proper use of insulin may help reduce the risk of side effects.
	Insulin doesn't cure diabetes.
	Taking insulin may help manage blood sugar levels. But it does not cure the disease. While progress toward finding a cure has been substantial, there is still no cure for diabetes.
	Insulin always needs to be refrigerated.
	Insulin does not always need to be refrigerated. Many people store open bottles at room temperature because they find it more comfortable to inject. Opened and unopened insulin can be stored at room temperature for up to 28 days. Some for up to 42 days! Refrigerated, unopened bottles are good until the expiration date printed on them. Always read the instructions that come with your insulin.
	Once I start taking insulin I will get addicted to it and will have to take it for the rest of my life.
	Insulin is not physically addictive or habit-forming. Some patients choose to take insulin to help manage their blood sugar. This does not mean they are addicted. They are replacing something the body once made naturally.

17-03-2010, 00:00 Geschreven door diabetesinsiders