Chronic Disease Management

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1. Lack of knowledge – Patients envision large needles, difficulty in drawing up correct doses, complex storage issues. A diabetes educator can help instruct in new devices such as pens, ease of storing, etc…

2. Fear of needles or injection pain – Many      patients on insulin report an insulin injection hurts less than checking blood sugars and there are very fine needles and guides that can be used.

3. Inconvenience associated with insulin therapy – Frequently patients feel they suddenly have to adhere to a rigid routine which includes eating at specified times, injecting insulin 30 minutes prior to a meal, and not being able to lead the life they are used to. This is simply untrue. Your health care team will fit an insulin regimen into your daily routine.

4. Personal failure – Patients often view starting insulin as punishment because they did not lose the weight their provider wanted them to. Since insulin production in a patient with Type 2 decreases over time, this statement is not true. 

Insulin causes complications – Some patients recall their relative having kidney failure or an amputation after beginning insulin. The insulin did not cause these things but blood sugars out of control contributed to these complications