Diabetes > Information for Worried Teenagers

Treatments for Diabetes - Insulin

How Insulin Works

Insulin lowers blood sugar by moving sugar from the blood into the cells of your body. Once inside the cells, sugar provides energy. If you take insulin, you'll need to eat on time and match your insulin injections to your meals. Your insulin should peak at the same time blood sugar levels from meals are also peaking.

Work with your health care team to establish a meal plan and to work out how to take your insulin in relation to your meals. It's important to plan for those 'what if' situations that come up and to know what to do.

How Insulin Works:

Basic Tips:

Remember, you need some insulin in your body all of the time.
You need some insulin before you eat a meal. Match the dose to the estimated amount of carbohydrates in the meal.
You may need additional insulin to lower your blood sugar if it is high sometimes.
By testing your blood sugar at least four times a day, you'll have the knowledge you need to moderate your insulin, activity and eating so that your blood sugar is under good control.

A rough guideline to remember is that one unit of insulin lowers blood sugar by 50 mg/dL and covers about 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrate.

How To Test Blood Sugar Levels

Gather supplies for test:

Test strip
Meter
Alcohol wipe
Lancet device and lancet

Instructions:

Turn on meter and insert strip.
Select a spot on your finger to lance. The outer edges of your fingers are best.
Wash your hands or wipe with alcohol.
Allow alcohol to dry.
Prick your finger with the lancet.
Squeeze a drop of blood onto the strip.
Wait for results.
Record results in a logbook.
Bring your logbook to office visits.

(above animation courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania)

How often?

Most people with diabetes need at least two insulin shots a day for good blood sugar control. Some people take three or four shots a day to have a more flexible plan.