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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 27 No. 4 2004
Starting insulin
More and more Australians are developing diabetes. They have too much glucose in their blood so they have to exercise and go on a diet. Usually they also have to take medicines to reduce the amount of glucose.
After a few years these medicines may not work so well. Eventually the patient may need to take insulin as well. Insulin has to be injected.
Insulin has to be used carefully so the glucose in the blood does not get too low. Usually the patient begins injecting only small doses.
Patients taking insulin need to check their glucose regularly. This can be done at home using a machine called a glucometer. The amount of glucose in the blood then helps the patient and their doctor to set the right dose of insulin.
