We Uncover the Treatments for Juvenile Diabetes
Juvenile diabetics no longer produce insulin naturally, so the main medical treatment is to inject insulin. ln recent years there has been much research into insulin, which has led to new and improved types of insulin. lt is worth reviewing the insulin you are using with your Doctor to see if changing to a new type could be beneficial.
The following section gives information on some of the latest insulin's available.
Fast acting
These insulin's are ultra fast and start work within approximately five to fifteen minutes. They peak after about one hour and are completely gone after three hours. Being so fast acting means they can be taken as or just before you start to eat, making for extra convenience. Drug names include "Lispro" & "Aspart".
Regular acting
Until fairly recently "Regular" insulin was the state of the art. Regular insulin takes about 30 minutes to work, so meal timing is crucial to avoid hypos. Regular also stays in your system longer, taking up to 8 hours before it is completely gone. If you are on Regular insulin, speak to your Doctor about the possible benefits of changing to fast acting insulin.
Intermediate
This type of insulin provides a background level in your system. They start working two hours after injection and carry on for up to 12 hours. In fact they may provide some glucose reduction effect for 24 hours. Names include "NPH" &"Lente".
Long acting
As the name suggests, long acting insulin aims to provide a long background (basal) level of insulin. It can take around 6 hours to act and will last for up to 26 hours. In some patients it does not achieve these figures though, so if you are having difficulties with long acting, speak with your Doctor. Names include "Ultralente".
New Long acting
A recent addition to the insulin market is an improved long acting version. It starts acting around two hours after injection and lasts approximately 24 hours, without a peak. The idea is to provide a steady background level of insulin throughout the day. Early indications are that this insulin can really help improve glucose control. If you are using a long acting or Intermediate insulin, and are not happy with your glucose control, ask your Doctor about the newer insulins, called either "Glargine" or "Lantus".
Selecting the right insulin is only part of the process, please read the injection sites page, for important information.
Oral Insulin
For those nervous of injections and lets face it, who wants to inject several times a day, the prospect of orally taken insulin is an attractive one. Several companies are researching the possibility of oral insulin. One difficult problem is that insulin is destroyed in the stomach, so a way must be developed by overcome that. One US company (http://www.coremedusa.com) is currently trialling inhaled insulin. Please check their website for up to date information.
Recommended Supplier
Diabetic Supplies from DiabetesStore.com
DiabetesStore.Com is a leading online retailer of all types of diabetes-related products at the lowest prices you'll find anywhere.
More Resources
[ www.jdrf.org ]
[ www.childrenwithdiabetes.com ]
[ www.joslin.org ]
[ www.diabetes.org
]
Comments and Questions
If you have any questions or comments relating to this section, please send them here and we will be happy to respond. Please note our privacy policy.
Pages in this section...
[ Symptoms ] [ Initial Diagnosis ] [ Risks ] [ Treatments ] [ Injection Sites ] [ Pens and Syringes ] [ Insulin Pumps ] [ Infusion Sets ]
| In recent years a new alternative to manual individual injections has emerged. Enter the Insulin Pump. The first Insulin Pumps were quite bulky...... |
| It takes more than just losing a few pounds to truly live a happier, healthier and more fulfilled lifestyle. That's why the Slim Girl's Box of Secrets comes with a unique set of benefits that you just won't find elsewhere. |
| Aside from medication and a good diet, exercise is the next most important aspect of managing your diabetes and helping to prevent.... |