About 3 in 10 people with type 2 diabetes use insulin along with antidiabetic pills. Two kinds of insulin, intermediate-acting and long-acting, can control blood sugar throughout the day. Some people also need to take insulin at meal times to offset the higher blood sugar that usually results from eating. These also come in 2 varieties, fast-acting and short-acting. In addition, a type of insulin known as premixed insulin provides coverage for meal times as well as throughout the day. Each type of insulin has benefits and drawbacks. For example, premixed insulin is better than pills at lowering blood sugar, but pills are less likely to cause weight gain and hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar.) Other questions to consider include the frequency and ease of injecting the various kinds of insulin, whether they can be used with a pen, and the cost.

[ Patient Guide (PDF) ]     [ Physician Guide (PDF) ]