(NC)—Treating diabetes and its complications costs the Canadian healthcare system approximately $13.2 billion each year. Left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can also have staggering human costs including diseases of the heart, kidneys, and eyes – and even amputation.
Early diagnosis, along with an effective management plan, can reduce the risk of these complications. Unfortunately, up to one-third of adults with diabetes may be unaware of their condition. Others may not be managing their disease properly, due to fear or misconceptions about diabetes and insulin.
Debunking common myths about insulin can result in more successful diabetes management.
Myth: Taking insulin means admitting defeat in your diabetes management efforts.
Truth: Many people with type 2 diabetes are fearful of their doctor's recommendation to start insulin treatment. There are two main reasons for this: first, the anxiety surrounding daily injections, and second, the feeling that they have personally failed in their diabetes management efforts and have progressed to a treatment of last resort. The fact is, both insulin and its delivery devices have come a long way in recent years – today, taking insulin can be simple, convenient and virtually painless.
Myth: People who take rapid-acting insulin at mealtime have to keep very strict schedules because insulin must be taken 15 minutes before eating.
Truth: Some people with diabetes rely on rapid-acting insulin to help control blood sugar “spikes” after meals. For those who do need rapid-acting insulin, there are newer options that can be taken either within 15 minutes before or within 20 minutes after the start of a meal. This allows more flexibility – for example, in a restaurant setting, it can be difficult to time an insulin injection 15 minutes before a meal arrives, so having the option to take it 20 minutes after starting a meal can be helpful.
Myth: For people always on the go, taking insulin is inconvenient.
Truth: Many people with diabetes have busy, active lives – just like people without diabetes. Some may find the process of injecting insulin to be inconvenient – especially if they have to load and change cartridges in their insulin pen. The good news is that there are new devices that make injecting insulin simple and convenient. For example, there is now a pre-filled insulin pen on the market, which comes pre-loaded with a long-acting insulin, thereby eliminating the need to load and change cartridges.
- News Canada