Insulin Therapy For Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes can do more harm than good

New research suggests that for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar lowering drugs may do more harm than good, according to RIA Med Informs. (Approximately 25.8 million people in the United States have diabetes, including type 2 diabetes, in 90-95% of all cases. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance - the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or use the hormone effectively, causing high blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can cause kidney, eye, or heart disease, nerve damage, or stroke.

The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is usually made by a blood test that measures the level of hemoglobin A1c in the blood. This test shows the patient’s average blood glucose level over the last 3 months. Sometimes the condition can be controlled by changing the diet, other patients with type 2 diabetes may need treatment - for example, insulin or metformin - to lower blood sugar and, ultimately, reduce the risk of complications after diabetes.

But researchers at University College London (UCL) in the UK argue that the benefits of this treatment, especially for people over the age of 50, don’t always outweigh the harm. To study them, led by Sandip Widjan, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, the team identified 5,102 patients in the UK with type 2 diabetes who managed their condition with pills or insulin injections). Over a 20-year follow-up period, the researchers studied how treatment for victims affected the overall quality of life of patients and whether it was effective compared to the risk of complications after diabetes.

What foods increase insulin in the human body:

Insulin is a protein produced by human pancreatic cells. It is responsible for adjusting the concentration of sugar in the blood serum. Insulin-boosting products should be in the diet. With their help, you can improve the process of carbohydrate absorption by the body's cells.

What foods have insulin?

Studies have shown that some foods have a natural insulin analog. By using them, it is possible to prevent a sudden rise in blood sugar.

The list of products containing natural insulin includes:

Their phytohormones have a positive effect on the process of glucose uptake into the body's cells. Under their action, sugars from food quickly penetrate the tissues and become a source of energy. Thanks to this, hyperglycemia can be avoided.

For preventive purposes, it is recommended to consume 300 g of boiled or roasted Jerusalem artichoke per day. You can replace it. Spoon. cinnamon or blueberry leaf tea. In the absence of metabolic disorders, it is not necessary to include the indicated sources of phytohormones in the diet.

Which food increases insulin in the blood

Phytoinsulin is found in only a few products. People who do not have diabetes or a predisposition to developing this disease do not need to change their diet. But the menu should include foods that increase insulin levels and lower blood sugar.

High-fiber foods are good for your health. Its use contributes to the fact that sugar does not rise abruptly, but gradually. This is why the pancreas manages to handle the load.

Easily digestible carbohydrates cause a rapid rise in sugar. This process starts the work of beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. But at the same time, the use of such food in large quantities increases the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream.

Over time, beta-cell function deteriorates and tissues become insulin resistant. Carbohydrates that enter the body cease to be a source of energy. Glucose from them is not absorbed by the cells but circulates in the bloodstream for a long time. Therefore, the use of products that cause the release of insulin and increase sugar levels contributes to weight gain and worsening of the general condition.

In order for the condition to normalize, it is necessary to include foods with a low glycemic index in the diet. Vegetables, legumes, mushrooms, meat, fish, dairy products have a positive effect on health.

In cases where the body’s response to insulin is weak, the cells no longer absorb glucose. Its concentration increases and the patient develops diabetes. In the initial stages of the disease, you can stabilize the condition with a proper diet.

Table with products that increase insulin in the blood

When shaping your diet, you should pay attention to your insulin index. It shows how the intake of certain foods increases the content of hormones in the blood produced by the pancreas.

In order to increase the concentration of insulin without harm to health, foods with a low glycemic index should be included in the diet. But at the same time, it should stimulate the production of hormones, which is necessary for glucose absorption.

Foods that stimulate insulin production can dramatically increase blood sugar levels. Therefore, their number in the diet is best kept to a minimum.

It is possible to normalize hormone production and prevent the development of diabetes if you eat fish, beef, nuts, dairy products. Their insulin index level is higher than their glycemic index. They stimulate beta cells but do not increase the sugar.

TOP 10 foods with a high insulin index

Pancreatic hormone production is triggered when products that raise insulin in the blood enter the body. In the TOP-10 autumn:

sweets (sweet jelly beans);
chocolates;
potatoes;
White rice;
sweet yogurt;
White bread;
baked beans;
ice cream;
cookies;
cake.

There is another food whose use stimulates beta cells.

How to raise insulin in the body products

Pancreatic hormones rapidly increase carbohydrates. If you make pastries and potatoes the basis of the diet, then you can cause the development of insulin resistance. This is a condition in which hormonal substances are produced in large quantities but the cells become insensitive to them. The person develops type 2 diabetes, obesity occurs.

Foods high in insulin do not only include sources of phytohormones (pear, blueberry leaves). Low-fat protein foods are also on the list. Doctors recommend that you focus on:

lean meat - beef, chicken, turkey;
sources of vegetable proteins - legumes and their derivatives;
Dairy Products;
fiber-rich vegetables.

For example, beef steak does not contain carbohydrates but causes the same insulin release as serving whole-grain bread. This reaction of the body is caused by the fact that this hormone is involved in the process of production of new proteins and absorption of amino acids. When we eat meat, the concentration of glucose in the blood remains almost unchanged.

Consuming carbohydrate foods in combination with protein rapidly increases insulin levels. This is how rice porridge or cottage cheese with sugar will work. Studies have shown that the response to insulin to the combination of protein and carbohydrate is 127% higher than when glucose alone is ingested.

You can increase insulin production with the help of dairy products. The maximum release of protein hormone is observed by applying sweet yogurts without fat, curd mass. But its excessive amount causes the development of metabolic disorders. Gradually, the cells become insensitive to the pancreatic hormone, leading to insulin resistance. This leads to obesity, type 2 diabetes.

It is recommended to include insulin-containing products in the diet, only on the recommendation of a doctor. This is necessary for people whose pancreas does not produce enough hormones. In the absence of metabolic disorders, it is best to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition.

Conclusion

Insulin-boosting products are necessary for humans to stimulate pancreatic beta cells. Its natural sources are Jerusalem artichoke, blueberry leaves, and cinnamon. Increases the production of hormonal substances in the choice of carbohydrates. Its maximum release into the bloodstream is observed with the simultaneous use of glucose and protein foods.

What happens when you inject insulin into a healthy person?

Sometimes doctors give insulin to absolutely healthy people under severe stress, as well as during excessive physical exertion when this hormone is simply not enough in the body. In this case, it is not possible to give the hormone, but it is also necessary because its lack will lead to hyperglycemic coma.

If a healthy person is injected with very little insulin, then his health is not in danger. A decrease in the general blood glucose indicator will only lead to hunger and mild weakness. But in rare cases, injection of even a small dose can lead to hyperinsulinism, which is manifested by such symptoms:

sharply pale skin;
sweating increases;
the concentration of attention decreases;
heart function is disturbed.

In addition, tremors appear in the limbs, and general weakness is felt in the muscles.

An absolutely healthy person can give insulin only according to the doctor's indications and under his direct control.

With repeated administration of hormones to a healthy person, pancreatic tumors, endocrine diseases, and metabolic disorders develop. Therefore, this medicine is given to healthy people only according to the doctor's instructions and only as an emergency.

How insulin affects the body

As a rule, the corresponding value of insulin is 5.5 - 10 µU / ml. The maximum allowable norm is 11.5 units, however, experts believe that this condition, whose name is "tolerance", can signal the initial stage of diabetes.

In case the hormones are not in normal amount, the cells then become less sensitive to secretion. The type of diabetes and treatment program will be determined by analysis.

Constant glucose levels of 20vcU / ml or more in the human body cause the likelihood of death.

Methods for increasing insulin levels

In order to reduce the concentration of sugar in the blood, it is important that the insulin is at a sufficient level. To increase this level, you can resort to insulin therapy and the use of sugar substitutes.

In this case, special drugs are used:

Medcifvin. The drug helps to restore the functioning of the immune system and strengthen its functions, helping to restore hormonal levels.
Livitsin. This medicine helps to dilate blood vessels.
Civil. Taking the drug ensures the regeneration of pancreatic cells. These cells help produce insulin in the blood while increasing its level.

Initially, it is worth paying attention to diet. Products included in the diet should contain a minimum glycemic index. The body appreciates them for being digested for a long time and divided gradually. As a result, sugar does not rise quickly.

A sharp increase or decrease in all indicators will be absent if meals are performed 5-6 times, while you should not eat late at night.

The body will function better if fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and whole wheat bread are included in the daily diet.

The lethal dose of insulin

It must be remembered that the lethal dose of insulin for a healthy person is 100 PIECES - this is the whole insulin syringe. But in special cases, this amount may be higher, it all depends on the general state of human health and its genetic characteristics.

There are cases when a person stays alive, even if that dose is exceeded 10-20 times. This means that a person has a chance at life even with a significant insulin overdose.

The coma develops sometime in 3 hours, if at that time glucose enters the bloodstream, the reaction stops.

The dose of insulin for patients with diabetes is calculated individually by the endocrinologist, depending on the test results. Typically, diabetics have prescribed 20 to 50 units of hormones.

Even the slightest overdose prescribed by a doctor can lead to coma.

The lethal dose of insulin for diabetics is more than 50 units. The introduction of such a volume of the drug develops a hypoglycemic crisis, which requires emergency care.

If a healthy person or a person with diabetes starts to show symptoms of an overdose after an insulin injection, they should be given first aid immediately.

To increase the balance of carbohydrates in the body, a person is allowed to eat a slice of white bread, only 100 grams is enough.
If the attack lasts more than 5 minutes, it is recommended to eat a few teaspoons of sugar or a couple of caramels.
If after eating bread and sugar the condition has not stabilized, these products are consumed in the same amount.

A periodic overdose occurs in every insulin-dependent person. But here it is important to help in time because a frequent overdose can develop acute ketoacidosis, which will require the use of strong drugs. In this case, the patient's condition worsens.

In cases of overdose of insulin preparations, a sudden drop in blood glucose may be observed, this condition is called hypoglycemia.

Dangerous games of the younger generation

Sometimes teenagers decide on dangerous experiments with health, injecting themselves with insulin. There are rumors circulating among teenagers that insulin helps achieve euphoria. But I must say that such rumors are completely unfounded.

Hypoglycemia is indeed very similar to alcohol intoxication but has a different effect on the body.

However, it should be understood that alcoholic beverages are considered light energy, which the body receives effortlessly for its part. But in the case of lowering glucose levels, everything is a little different.

In simple words, instead of the expected euphoria, a person gets a state of a severe hangover with a terrible headache and uncomfortable trembling in the limbs. We must not forget that repeated administration of insulin to a completely healthy person leads to disturbances in the normal functioning of the endocrine system.

Parents should closely monitor their growing children and have more frequent preventive conversations with them about avoiding taking the medication without a doctor’s prescription.

Insulin is vital for people suffering from certain types of diabetes, but for a healthy person, this hormone can be used in exceptional cases.

Briefly about natural insulin and inulin from diabetes.

Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the "islets of Langerhans" in the pancreas. The main action of this important hormone in the regulation of blood glucose. There is no such substance in nature that could be used as insulin. And if you have type 1 diabetes, no plant can raise the C-peptide above zero. In diabetes, the use of sugar-lowering herbs instead of hormones does not make sense, since their effect cannot be calculated and planned, a coating will be created for insulin therapy. Herbs are also serious drugs that can, as well as cure, and mutilate. They must be understood wisely.

Inulin (polyfructose) - an organic substance from the group of polysaccharides, a dietary fiber that is not broken down in human digestive enzymes.

How can insulin lower blood sugar?

What are the other benefits for diabetics of regular inulin intake?

Slows or lacks the development of diabetic nephropathy, leading to renal failure;
There is no diabetic retinopathy and, as a result, blindness;
There is no damage to the veins of the limbs, especially the feet, which end in amputation.

List of herbs useful for diabetes.

This list of plants affects carbohydrate metabolism. They stimulate pancreatic beta cells, reduce insulin resistance and affect glucose reabsorption. Recommended by official medicine for type 2 diabetes.

Allium sativum (garlic)
Aloe vera (present Aloe)
Anoectochilus formosanus (anectochilus orchid)
Mexican Argemone (Mexican Spinach Poppy)
Artemisia dracunculus (ashtray)
Aspalathus linearis (rooibos)
Astragalus spp. (Astragalus)
Berberis aristata (Indian barberry)
Barberry vulgaris (Barberry vulgaris)
Bidens pilosa (hairy series)
Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens (chili pepper)
Empress Papaya (Papaya)
Carthamus tinctorius (saffron dyeing)
Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cinnamon)
Cinnamomum verum (real cinnamon)
Coccinia grandis
Coccinia indica (Indian coccinia)
Coptis chinensis (Chinese coptis, golden root)
Turmeric longa (turmeric, turmeric rainbow)
Dioscorea spp. (Dioscorea)
Eschscholzia californica (Eshsholtsia California, California poppy)
Gastrodia elata
Ginkgo biloba
Glycine max (soy)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (sweet candy, sweet candy)
Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema forest)
Hoodia gordonii (Hoodia gordonii cactus)
Hydrastis canadensis (yellow root)
Ilex paraguariensis (Paraguayan holly, yerba mate)
Ishige okamurae (Ishiga brown algae)
Litchi chinensis (Chinese lychee)
Lonicera japonica (Japanese nut)
Mahonia aquifolium
Momordica charantia (bitter cucumber)
Opuntia spp.
Panax spp. (Ginseng)
Pandanus amaryllifolius (yellow-pandanus leaves)
Phellodendron amurense
Silybum marianum (milk thistle)
Tinospora cordifolia (tinospore cordial, gudu)
Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek)
Urtica dioica (nettle)
Vaccinium myrtillus (blueberries)
Xanthorhiza simplicissima (xanthorhosis of protozoa)

Side effects of insulin injections: what you need to know

Common insulin side effects

Keep in mind that the majority of insulin adverse effects are caused by inappropriate dosing and injection methods. If used with great care and careful handling, a person with diabetes can maintain excellent health throughout life.

Hypoglycemia

If the insulin dose is too high, the consequence will be an excessive reduction in blood sugar. That is why it is so important to know your own coefficients according to which the bolus dose is taken.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

dizziness
excessive concern
ad
sweating (cold and sticky sweat), chills
Irritability or impatience
confusion
cardiopalmus
excessive hunger
nausea
pallor
hangover
weakness
blurred / blurred vision
tingling or numbness on the lips, tongue or cheeks
headache
coordination problems, clumsiness
nightmares (if you sleep)
apoplexy
burning

Some insulin may burn during or immediately after an injection. This is often found in long-acting insulins, for example, when you use Lantus. The burning sensation occurs because such insulin has a high level of acidity.

Some insulins can cause tingling or burning if you enter muscle tissue rather than body fat. This is also possible when insulin is injected into a frequently used injection zone that needs to be healed.

However, it is difficult to prevent the burning sensation from "acidic" insulin. If you feel uncomfortable sensations, you can try using cold to reduce the pain. To do this, apply an ice injection to the injection site before injecting the insulin. This may help, but it probably won't completely remove the stinging.

Rash and allergic reaction

Less than 4 percent of people who have diabetes are hypersensitive or allergic to insulin, but if you are one of those 4 percent, it is a serious problem.

An allergic reaction in humans is thought to be a reaction to commercially available insulin supplements.

Symptoms of insulin allergy include:

Edema at the injection site
Severe rash, rash, and itching
Low blood pressure
Swelling in the throat and mouth
Shortness of breath (anaphylaxis)

To date, there is no single treatment method that is effective enough for widespread use.

"Various treatment options have been proposed for the treatment of allergic reactions to insulin, from relieving symptoms with simple antihistamines to more sophisticated insulin desensitization therapy," the study explains.

Although steroids can significantly help with an allergic reaction, they create a huge resistance to insulin and make it difficult to regulate blood sugar levels, so they cannot be used as a long-term solution.

Tissue scar

Rotation of the injection site is crucial to prevent scarring. If you inject into the same area of your body every day, your body will accumulate harder tissue fibers each time it heals from the damage with this injection.

Over time, the accumulation of connective tissue will affect your body's ability to properly absorb the insulin you have injected, leading to an increase in blood sugar because insulin is poorly absorbed from such sites.

Rotation of injections between different parts of the body (thighs, abdomen, back of arms, buttocks, etc.) can prevent the rapid formation of connective tissue at the injection site.

Unfortunately, the formation of lipodystrophy is inevitable if you need to do a lot of injections every day. However, you can slow down these processes.

Bruising and irritation at the injection site

Sometimes you just put the needle in the wrong place, and that leads to the formation of small bruises.

The solution is very simple: rotation, rotation and rotation again. Constantly changing the injection site can prevent excessive damage in one area.

If you notice a bruise or irritation at the injection site, try to avoid this particular area (and around it) for the next week or two to heal.

If irritation persists or bruises spread rather than diminish, consult a physician immediately to ensure that the infection does not develop into harm.

Infections

Potentially, an infection can occur at the injection site, although this is a fairly rare situation. Problems with insulin pump users often occur. This is usually due to wearing one infusion for too long. To prevent such problems, follow the manufacturer's recommendations: change the Teflon cannula once every 3 days, perform the infusion set with a metal cannula - once every 2 days.

The type of bacteria that most commonly causes infections in the areas where insulin is injected is called Mycobacterium chelonae. The higher the blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin, the higher the risk of developing an infection, as this contributes to the growth of bacteria and a weakened immune system.

Using alcohol wipes at the injection site or at the infusion set site will help reduce the risk of infection. It is also important to use the syringes only once and change the infusion set according to the rules.

Weight gain

Excessive amounts of insulin can cause your body to accumulate excess fat.

Read more about the causes and solution of the problem in the article: Insulin and weight gain: how to deal with the problem

Insulin is an important component in life. But you need to approach it responsibly to use it to prevent most of these side effects. Work with your doctor to ensure that your chosen insulin and doses improve your health and do no harm.

Insulin for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes insulin is a necessary tool to keep blood glucose levels normal and protect against complications. It is possible to do without injections of a hormone that lowers sugar in mild cases, but not with a disease of moderate or severe severity. Many diabetics need time to sit on tablets and have high glucose levels. Inject the insulin to keep the sugar normal, otherwise diabetic complications will develop. They can make you disabled or take you to the grave early. For sugar levels of 8.0 mmol / L and above, start treating type 2 diabetes with insulin, as described below.

Insulin for type 2 diabetes: a detailed article

Understand that starting insulin treatment is not a tragedy or the end of the world. On the contrary, injections will prolong your life and improve its quality. They protect against complications of the kidneys, legs, and eyes.

Where to start?

First of all, take a blood test for C-peptide. The decision on whether to inject insulin in type 2 diabetes is made based on its results. If C-peptide levels are low, you will need to inject insulin at least during periods of SARS, food poisoning, and other acute illnesses.

Most patients who use a step-by-step type 2 diabetes regimen manage to live well without daily injections. When you come to the lab for a C-peptide test, you can also check for glycated hemoglobin.

In any case, practice doing painless injections with an insulin syringe. You'll be astonished at how simple it is.. With a syringe pen - the same thing, everything is simple and painless. The skill of giving insulin will come in handy when a cold, food poisoning or other acute condition occurs. Insulin will need to be temporarily injected during such periods. Otherwise, diabetes can get worse for the rest of your life.

Insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients have difficulty:

to be provided with high-quality imported medicines;
calculate the dose correctly;
often measure sugar, keep a diary daily;
analyze treatment results.

But the pain from injections is not a serious problem, because it is practically non-existent. Later you will laugh at your old fears ..

After some time, even subcutaneous administration of insulin in small doses according to a scheme selected individually can be added to these subsidies. Your insulin dosage will be 3-8 times lower than what doctors are used to. As a result, you won't have to deal with the negative effects of insulin therapy.

The goals and methods of treating type 2 diabetes, which is described on this site, are almost completely different from the standard recommendations. However, Dr. Bernstein’s methods help, and standard therapy is not very good, as you have seen. The real and achievable goal is to maintain the stability of sugar 4.0-5.5 mmol / L, as in healthy people. This is guaranteed to protect against complications of diabetes in the kidneys, eyes, legs, and other body systems.

Why is type 2 diabetes prescribed for insulin?

At first look, it appears that insulin injections are unnecessary in type 2 diabetes. Because the level of this hormone in the blood of patients is usually normal or even elevated. However, not everything is so simple. The fact is that in patients with type 2 diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Unfortunately, such attacks occur not only in type 1 diabetes but also in T2DM. Because of them, a significant portion of beta cells can die.

The causes of type 2 diabetes are obesity, an unhealthy diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. Many middle-aged and elderly people are overweight. However, not all those with type 2 diabetes develop. What determines whether obesity will turn into diabetes? From genetic predisposition to autoimmune attacks. Sometimes these attacks are so severe that only insulin injections can compensate.

What sugar indicators should I switch from tablets to insulin?

First and foremost, have a look at the list of dangerous medicines for type 2 diabetes. Refuse to take them immediately, regardless of your blood sugar level. Used properly, insulin injections can prolong your life. And harmful pills reduce it, even if the glucose level is temporarily reduced.

Then you need to monitor your sugar behavior throughout the day, for example, during the week. Use the meter more often, don’t skimp on test strips.

The blood glucose threshold is 6.0-6.5 mmol / l.

It may turn out that your sugar regularly exceeds this value in a few hours, despite strict adherence to diet and taking the maximum dose of metformin. This means that the pancreas cannot cope with the peak load. It must be carefully maintained with low-dose insulin injections to avoid complications of diabetes.

There are usually problems with sugar in the morning on an empty stomach. To make it normal, you need:

Let's have dinner in the early evening, until 18.00-19.00

Inject slightly prolonged insulin at night.

Glucose levels are also measured 2-3 hours after a meal. It can be regularly raised after breakfast, lunch or dinner. In this case, you must inject fast (short or ultra-short) insulin before these meals. Or you can try to take prolonged insulin in the morning, in addition to the injection you take at night.

Don't agree to live with sugar of 6.0-7.0 mmol / l, and even more, higher! Because with these indicators, chronic complications of diabetes develop, albeit slowly. With the help of injections, bring your indicators to 3.9-5.5 mmol / l.

You must first switch to a low-carb diet. Metformin is associated with it. With sugar values of 8.0 mmol / L and above, insulin should be injected immediately. Later supplement it with metformin tablets with a gradual increase in the daily dose to the maximum.

After starting the injections, you should continue to follow a diet and take metformin. Glucose levels must be kept stable in the range of 4.0-5.5 mmol / L, as in healthy people. Your doctor can tell you that 6.0-8.0 mmol / L sugar is excellent. But this is not true, because chronic complications of diabetes develop, but slowly.

Is it possible to take insulin in tablets instead of injections? Unfortunately, insulin is degraded in the gastrointestinal system by hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. There are no effective pills that contain this hormone. Pharmaceutical companies do not conduct research in this direction at all.

An inhalation aerosol has developed. However, this tool cannot ensure dosing accuracy. Therefore, it must not be used. Patients with type 2 diabetes who consume a lot of carbs are need to take massive amounts of insulin. It will not work ± 5-10 units of time. But for diabetics who follow a low-carb diet, this mistake is unacceptably large. It can make up 50-100% of the total required dose.

To date, there are no real ways to give insulin other than injections. We repeat that these injections are almost painless. Try to provide yourself with high-quality imported medicines, as well as learn how to calculate the dose correctly. By solving these problems, you will deal with injections.

Tissue scar