How to Start Newly-Diagnosed Diabetics on Insulin Instead of Oral Drugs

Oral drugs, such as Metformin, are usually the drugs prescribed to a newly-diagnosed diabetic. However, some diabetics are not diagnosed with diabetes until the diabetes has progressed to an advanced stage and requires more aggressive treatment than what oral drugs can provide. In these cases, insulin is prescribed. Only a physician skilled in treating diabetic patients should decide whether to start a newly-diagnosed diabetic patient on oral drugs or insulin.

Instructions

How to Start Newly-Diagnosed Diabetics on Insulin Instead of Oral Drugs

• 1

  Have a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or random plasma glucose test performed to diagnose diabetes. An FPG test is preferred due to its convenience and low cost.

• 2

  Ensure that the test is repeated a few fays later if blood glucose levels are elevated. A positive diagnosis for diabetes cannot be made unless the blood glucose levels are elevated on two separate occasions using the same test.

• 3

  Speak with your physician about skipping the oral drugs and prescribing insulin if you have a family history of diabetes that has not been able to be controlled with oral drugs or if your blood glucose levels were over 300 for the FPG test, over 400 for the OGTT, or over 300 with the random plasma glucose test.

• 4

  Learn how to measure blood glucose, how to determine how much insulin is required, how to measure insulin, and how to administer insulin. Your physician should be able to teach you these skills. Ask for a referral to a Diabetic Educator if you find that your physician is unable to explain these skills in an understandable way.