A. Some people are more prone to getting a urinary tract infection, and people with diabetes are more at risk for developing a UTI than those who do not have diabetes. That’s because diabetes suppresses the immune system. One reason is because poor circulation in those with diabetes decreases the mobility of infection-fighting white blood cells, as well as their effectiveness in killing bacteria.
A. No. Taking insulin does not mean that you have Type 1 diabetes. The type of diabetes you have is determined by your genetics, not by the medication you are prescribed.Only in rare cases of “double diabetes” can someone with Type 2 diabetes develop symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.
Your doctor may prescribe insulin for a number of reasons, including:
It depends. If you were on an oral diabetes medicationand your doctor prescribed insulin as a supplement, it’s likely because the oral medication was not working well enough by itself to reduce your blood glucose. But if you can lose weight, eat healthier, increase your physical activity or change your medications to help lower your blood sugar levels, you may be able to reduce or stop insulin injections.
A. Insulin pumps deliver a small amount of short-acting insulin throughout the day.The rate at which an insulin pump infuses these “background” doses of insulin is the basal rate. Over the course of 24 hours, these background doses of insulin, or basal flow, typically account for about one-half of a person’s total daily insulin requirement. However, this percentage can vary depending on a person’s diet and physical activity for the day.
A. Insulin injections take the place of insulin that is normally produced by the body. Insulin helps to move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. It also blocks the liver from producing more sugar.
There are several classes of oral diabetes medications, and each of them work in different ways:
