Insulin is Addictive | Insulin is not Effective | Insulin causes hypoglycemia | Insulin injections need to be done several times a day | Insulin Leads to Obesity | Injections are painful | Insulin is a last hope | Insulin treatment is unsafe
Thanks to the advent of insulin, diabetes was transferred from the category of fatal diseases to chronic. There are many horror myths that give rise to people with diabetes mellitus, a feeling of fear and a desire to refuse insulin therapy.
There are really many questions related to insulin, but it is better to get answers to them from experienced specialists than to use numerous rumors. Do not forget that we are talking, first of all, about your health and mistakes in this case will cost you dearly. Experienced specialists will help us to understand this issue, commenting on the most common myths about insulin today.
Myth # 1: Insulin is Addictive
This point of view is wrong. You can’t get used to insulin, as it is a natural component that is vital for the body. In addition, the dosage of the drug is selected and adjusted for each patient, in accordance with the indicators of his fasting blood sugar level.
Myth # 2: Insulin Demand Proves Not Effective
Absolutely wrong. The fact is that type 2 diabetes mellitus progresses even when the patient receives treatment, so at a certain stage the pancreas is no longer able to produce the required amount of insulin. And if taking the pills does not allow you to achieve the target hemoglobin values, then in this case the best option is to prescribe insulin as the most effective means for lowering blood sugar levels. In addition, today there is a point of view that insulin therapy should be started already in the early stages of the disease in order to help the pancreas recover and maintain its existing state.
Myth # 3: Insulin injections increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
If we are talking about new types of insulin, then the statement is incorrect. Indeed, the introduction of insulin can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, but now, thanks to the emergence of new generation drugs of a longer action ( “Lantus”, “Levemir”), the risk of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients is significant. reduced. Recent studies have shown that patients who received the new type of insulin had a 48% reduction in the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia (the most dangerous condition for diabetics).
Myth # 4: Insulin injections need to be done several times a day.
Not always. Patients requiring insulin therapy can receive one injection of basal insulin once a day, which mimics naturally low blood insulin levels. Such treatment may be sufficient by itself or, if necessary, combined with medications to lower blood sugar.
Myth # 5: Insulin Treatment Leads to Obesity
Unfortunately, it’s true. When blood sugar is high, most of the calories consumed are excreted in the urine, and the body does not have time to use them. Insulin injections stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, thereby helping the body absorb food more efficiently, using calories as an energy source for cells, which contributes to weight gain. But today, the use of a new generation of insulin medications, coupled with regular exercise and advice from a nutritionist, can reduce the risk of obesity.
Myth # 6: Insulin injections are painful.
Erroneous statement. The use of very thin needles makes the injection of insulin painless. Some patients claim that finger pricks to check blood sugar are more painful than insulin shots.
Myth # 7: Insulin is a last resort in the face of complications and threats to life
False statement. There is now a consensus in the medical community regarding the many benefits of early initiation of insulin therapy. The fact is that high blood sugar levels over time increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and related complications. That is why it is important not to waste such precious time on treatment that does not help control blood sugar levels: the sooner insulin is prescribed, the more effectively it can prevent complications or death of the patient.
Myth # 8: Insulin treatment is unsafe as it can lead to complications
This is one of the myths, nothing more. The safety of treatment with new-generation insulin drugs has long been proven by the results of many studies, according to which it has been established that these drugs do not increase the risk of developing cardiovascular complications (heart attack, stroke) and are safe in all respects. In addition, insulin slows down the progression of microvascular diseases and lowers the level of triglycerides in the blood. And one more important fact in favor of insulin: scientists, testing the effect of insulin on cognitive abilities, failed to find an increase in the risk of developing dementia in patients with diabetes.