In type 2 diabetes, insulin can be added into your treatment plan along with your oral tablets.
There are 2 ways in which insulin can be started in people with type 2 diabetes:
- Basal insulin given once-a-day in combination with Metformin and Sulphonylureas – this is also known as Basal-Oral therapy.
- Premix insulin given once or twice a day, normally only in combination with Metformin.
If your blood sugar (glucose) levels are not controlled (HbA1c greater than 7%), then your doctor may add extra injections into your insulin regimen.
- Basal Plus / Basal-Bolus: Your doctor may choose to act a rapid acting insulin onto of your basal insulin. He may ask you to choose which meal is your biggest meal, and then you will inject your rapid acting insulin just before this meal. You will still inject your basal insulin in the same way/time that you did before. Over time, your doctor may add rapid acting insulin at the other meals as well.
- Premix insulin: If you are using a Premix analogue insulin, and you were only injecting once / twice a day, your doctor may add a second or third injection before each meal.
Your doctor will decide with insulin regimen he thinks will be best for you. Once you start injecting insulin it becomes ever more important for you to monitor (measure) your blood sugar (glucose) levels at home using a home blood glucose monitor. Your doctor will advise you on the best times to test your blood sugar (glucose) levels.