Guide

There are a lot of myths about the role and the use of insulin in managing Type 2 diabetes. Some of the more common ones being:

This is a myth which arises from an incorrect understanding of Type 2 diabetes. It is true that in Type 2 diabetes a person requires exogenous insulin (that is insulin from an external source) but it is incorrect to think that in such cases the body no longer produces insulin. This never occurs in clinical practice. On the contrary, in Type 2 diabetes, the capability of the body to produce insulin may be reduced because of hyperglaemia ( i.e. excess of glucose in the blood) and not because of external insulin. External insulin helps in reducing hyperglycaemia and controls glucotoxicity.

Any intervention to control the sugar level in the body is capable of bringing about hypoglycaemia - whether it is because of insulin or because of oral medicines. It is like saying "driving causes accidents so it is better to walk then to drive". Research has established that the risk of hypoglycaemia with insulin in patients with Type 2 diabetes is not significantly greater than with some oral medicines. However in tight control of diabetes, whether with oral medicines or with insulin thrapy, hypoglycaemia remains an unresolved issue which can at best be avoided, but cannot be wished away.

To an extent there may be an initial resistance to the commencement of insulin therapy. A few days trial period often is the answer to such resistance. With improved control and the experience of a better quality of life, most people do not find self-injection as intimidating as they would have believed in the initial stages. With increasing awareness and the availability of newer (virtually painless) delivery devices, the resistance to insulin therapy has reduced even further.

There may be weight gain due to improved metabolic control. Insulin also stimulates appetite. Weight gain can be avoided with appropriate dietary control and should not be the reason to withhold insulin.