What you need to know about regular insulin (short-acting insulin)

Has your doctor told you to start taking insulin injections as a treatment for diabetes ? You may have heard the names 'Regular Insulin ' or 'Short-Acting Insulin'. So, upon hearing this name, many questions must have come to your mind. "What type of insulin is this?", "How does it work?", "When should I take it?", "Are there any side effects ?" You may be wondering things like this. Don't worry, we will talk about all this very simply today, in a way that you can understand.

What is regular insulin?

Simply put, regular insulin is a synthetic insulin hormone that is used to control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes . It is also called short-acting insulin. This is because it starts working within a short time after it is injected into the body and then loses its effectiveness within a few hours.

This is not a cure for diabetes. But it can help control high blood sugar levels and protect you from dangerous complications that can occur due to diabetes. People with both Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes , including children and adults, can use this type of insulin under the guidance of their doctor.

How does this insulin work in our body?

Think of the cells in our bodies as little houses. The sugar ( glucose ) we eat provides the energy these houses need to function. But this sugar can't go directly into the houses called cells. The doors to those houses are closed.

The hormone insulin acts like the "key" that opens these doors. In a healthy person's body, this key, insulin, is produced naturally. However, in a person with diabetes, the body produces less of this key, or even if it does, the key cannot open the door properly.

That's when we give insulin externally as an injection. Regular insulin given this way does three main things:

1. Reduces blood sugar levels: Helps move sugar accumulated in the blood vessels into the cells.

2. Provides energy to cells: Sugar that enters the cells is used as energy by the cells.

3. Controls sugar production by the liver: Our liver stops unnecessary sugar production and accumulation in the blood.

In this way, this insulin helps you manage your blood sugar levels and live a healthy life.

What is the correct way to inject insulin?

To get the most out of this insulin, it is very important to use it correctly and at the right time.

Time is the most important thing.

Imagine that you eat at 8 am. Then you should inject insulin around 7:30 am. Because it takes about 30-60 minutes for this insulin to reach the body and start working. That means that when you eat, the insulin starts working and is ready to control the sugar that is added to the blood from the food.

• Starts working: Within 30-60 minutes
• Maximum performance: within 2-3 hours
• Staying power: About 3-6 hours

Important: Never skip meals after injecting insulin. Doing so can cause your blood sugar to drop dangerously low. We'll talk about that in a moment.

Where should I get vaccinated?

This insulin is injected into the fatty layer under the skin. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to do this. Common places to inject insulin are:

• Abdomen (around the navel)
• Upper arm (back of the arm)
• Upper thigh (front or back)
• Buttock area

What are the risks and side effects to watch out for?

As with any medication, there are a few things we need to be aware of when using regular insulin. Being aware of these is very important for your safety.

As a person with diabetes, you should definitely be aware of the two words "Hypo" and "Hyper."

1. Hypoglycemia: This means that the blood sugar level is too low .

2. Hyperglycemia: This means that the blood sugar level is too high .

Knowing the symptoms of both of these conditions can help save your life in an emergency.

Other risks

• Hypokalemia: This is a condition where the level of potassium in the blood is low. Symptoms can include irregular heartbeat, weakness, and muscle twitching.
• Severe Allergic Reactions: This is rare. However, if it does occur, symptoms such as difficulty breathing, hives, and swelling of the tongue/throat/face may occur. This is a medical emergency (anaphylaxis) . If you experience any of these symptoms, go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
• Injection site reactions: Some people may experience redness, itching, swelling, or pain at the injection site.

What happens if you overdose on insulin?

Yes, taking too much insulin is very dangerous. If you do, your blood sugar levels can drop very low (Severe Hypoglycemia) , seizures, coma, and even death can occur.

If you think you have accidentally injected too much insulin, or if you see someone who has, call 911 immediately for an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU). Do not try to manage this at home.

Can this interact with other medications I am taking? (Drug Interactions)

Yes, absolutely. Some medications you take can interact with insulin and affect your blood sugar levels. Some medications can cause your blood sugar to drop even lower, while others can cause your blood sugar to rise.

So, when you go to see your doctor, tell him about all the medications you are taking, including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements . It is especially important to inform him if you are taking any of the following medications:

• Blood pressure medications (especially beta-blockers)
• Painkillers (Aspirin, NSAIDs)
• Other types of diabetes pills
• Diuretics
• Asthma or allergy medications
• Medications for cholesterol
• Medication for mental illness
• Medicines containing steroids
• Birth control pills

This list is not complete, so be sure to talk to your diabetes doctor before starting any new medication. Also, drinking alcohol can be dangerous when taking insulin.

What are the things you need to tell the doctor?

Before starting regular insulin, be sure to tell your doctor about the following:

• If you have allergies to any medicine or food.
• If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• If you have any eye disease or vision impairment.
• If you have frequent low blood sugar episodes (hypoglycemia episodes).

Based on this information, it will be easier for the doctor to determine the treatment method that is most suitable for you.

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