What Is Conventional Insulin Therapy?

Conventional insulin therapy is used to lower blood sugar levels. This therapy relies on daily intake of insulin and is often used in combination with an exercise regimen and diet changes to help diabetics manage diabetes.

Significance

• According to the Diabetes Learning Center on the BD Diabetes website, conventional insulin therapy mimics the natural function of the pancreas when food is ingested. The body produces the hormone Insulin to help transform the food you eat into energy.

Procedure

• Patients being treated with conventional insulin therapy inject themselves with insulin at the same time every day. People with diabetes might require insulin injections either because their bodies don't produce enough insulin or they can't properly assimilate the insulin that they do produce, or both.

Frequency

• Only a physician can determine how many doses of insulin are needed on a daily basis. Some diabetics need to give themselves insulin injections two to three times per day.

Types of Insulin

• Conventional insulin therapy can be used in conjunction with regular, rapid-acting or intermediate-acting insulin, depending on the patient's needs.

Considerations

• Conventional insulin therapy requires the patient to inject their insulin before they eat. Meals must be eaten at the same time every day to prevent hypoglycemic shock, which can result from a decrease in blood sugar.