Insulin pen is like having an old-fashioned cartridge pen in your pocket, instead of a writing point, a needle, and for ink cartridge, an insulin cartridge. You just turn a dial to measure out your dose.

What is an Insulin pen?

An insulin pen looks similar to a fountain pen; however, it is used to inject insulin in the diabetes treatment. The insulin pen has insulin cartridge (to hold insulin, which can bought separately) and a dial ( to measure the dose) to inject the accurate amount of insulin.

Insulin pen types

While there are a number of different brands and models available, most insulin pens fall into one of two groups:

1. Reusable insulin pen - Insulin pen with disposable cartridge, needs to be replacing with newer cartridge when empty.
2. Disposable insulin pens - just throw away the whole thing the pen itself when it is empty.

Reusable Insulin pen

For reusable insulin pen, you must load it with a cartridge of insulin (sold separately in boxes of five cartridges). Cartridges used today hold 150 or 300 units of insulin. Depending on the size of your doses, a cartridge may give you enough insulin to last for several days of injections. When the cartridge is empty, you throw it away and load a new cartridge. With good care, a reusable pen can often be useful for several years.

Disposable insulin pen

Disposable insulin pen comes pre filled with insulin and are thrown away when they are empty. Most disposable pens used today hold 300 units of insulin and are available in boxes of five. Disposable pens are generally more convenient than reusable pens because you do not need to load any cartridges, but they usually cost more than reusable pens.

Choosing an Insulin Pen as per ones needs

• Number of units of insulin, the pen holds.
• The largest dose size can be injecting with the pen.
• How finely the dose can adjust by the pen. For example, one pen may adjust dose in two-unit increments (2, 4, 6, etc.), another in one-unit increments (1, 2, 3, etc.) and yet another in half-unit increments (1/2, 1, 1 1/2).
• The way the pen indicates whether there is enough insulin left in it for your entire dose.
• The size of the numbers on the pen dose dials, whether you need a magnifier to see it.
• How do you correct a mistake if you dial the wrong dose into the pen?

Insulin pen usage procedure

One significant advantage of diabetes pens is their ease of use.

• Screw on a new needle
• If necessary, prime the pen to remove any air from the needle
• Turn the knob on the end of the pen (or "dial") to the number of units needed
• Insert the needle into the skin
• Press the button on the end of the pen to deliver the dose
• Count to five & remove

Insulin pen with pre filled medication

Insulin pens contain regular, NPH, insulin lispro, insulin aspart, insulin glulisine, or 70/30 or 75/25 premixed insulin. It is important to double-check your prescriptions after receiving pre-filled cartridges to make sure you got what you asked for. If you are using a pen with NPH, 70/30, or 75/25, you will need to follow package instructions to ensure the insulin is well mixed.

Presence of ketones in the urine is an indication of the body start metabolizes fat.   Both diabetics and persons on low-carbohydrate diets may test their urine for ketones daily.

Ketone test overview

Normally, no ketones are available in the urine. In low carbohydrate metabolism situations, ketones appear in the urine in large amounts before serum ketones are elevated. The reagent detects as little as 5-10 mg/dl acetoacetic (ketones) in urine.

Ketone testing procedure

Ketone urine-testing strips have a small absorptive pad; it contains a chemical reagent that changes color (usually within 15-20 seconds) in the presence of ketones in the urine. The ketone-strips change to varying shades of pink and purple. The ketone-strips' container has a scale on the label, with illustrative blocks of color to help you identify the shade of your ketone-testing strip.

Ketone test strips handling the procedure

The chemical reagent on the ketone test strip is very sensitive to moisture, including moisture in the air, so be sure to keep the lid of the container tightly closed at all times. In addition, keep your hands dry when using the strip. Once you open the container seal, ketone strips have a shelf life of only six months for a reliable result.

Ketone test strips usage procedure:

• It is best to collect a first-morning urine sample in a clean, dry container.
• Confirm that your hand is dry.
• Take out one reagent strip from the bottle and immediately close container tightly, to minimize exposure to moisture.
• Immerse the tip of the reagent strip in the urine sample and then take out immediately to avoid dissolving of reagent in the strip.
• Run the edges of the strip against the rim to avoid urine spills.
• Wait for some seconds (15 – 20 seconds) for the reaction to carry over and color change to take place.
• Compare the color change of the reagent strip to that of the color chart provided in the container. 

A new generation of the blood-glucose monitoring system, known as continuous glucose monitors, promises to change the way patients and their care providers manage diabetes.

What is a Continous glucose monitor?

Unlike traditional monitors that provide one-time snapshots of the blood-glucose level, continuous glucose monitors deliver readings every few minutes around the clock. This enables the patients and their doctors to measure the trends, chart ups & downs, and identify problems and adjust insulin, meal, or exercise regimens.

Continuous glucose monitors have a tiny flexible catheter, similar to the catheters used with an insulin pump, is inserted into “subcutaneously” (under the skin). The catheter houses the glucose sensor, which measures changes in glucose levels in the interstitial fluid (the tiny layer of fluid under the skin), and sends the information either to a beeper-sized box or to a compatible insulin pump, which stores the results. Three or four days’ worth of blood-glucose readings can be stored at a time.

Because it sometimes takes a while for the glucose level in the interstitial fluid to match the glucose level in your blood, you should double-check your results with a finger stick reading before treating for a high or a low glucose level that shows up on your continuous glucose monitor. Talk with your doctor about the availability of these products, whether it makes sense for you.

What are diabetes organs? Pancreas and Liver are considering as diabetes organs, which are responsible for glucose metabolism.

Diabetes pancreas, liver & muscle cells

Glucose metabolism involves small intestine, pancreas, liver, and muscle cell. If there are, any problem with any of this diabetes organ leads to a defect in glucose metabolism and can develop diabetes.

Diabetes pancreas

The pancreas produces various enzymes that aid in the digestive process, additionally to convert glucose into energy. The pancreas secretes different enzyme and hormones, which include insulin requires for the digestion and absorption of food. The glucose utilization in the body is controlling by the insulin. Your body tissues need insulin for proper glucose absorption, and an exception is your brain. If your pancreas fails to produce or secretes sufficient amount of insulin, leads to elevated blood glucose level called diabetes mellitus.

Functions of Insulin hormone

Insulin is a hormone, which controls and comments (signals) the whole glucose metabolism process. Digestion of food releases glucose (first nutrient released from food, which energies the entire body) into the bloodstream. On seeing the high level of glucose in the blood, the pancreas releases a certain quantity of insulin concerning the level of glucose in the blood to normalize the blood-glucose level.

Insulin as a commenting signal

• to muscle cells that inform there is enough glucose available for consumption
• it is the commenting signal to the liver to stop converting glycogen to glucose and releasing of glucose in the bloodstream.
• If there is a high level of glucose in the blood than the typical requirement, then pancreas release’s a high level of insulin concerning the level of glucose. This high level of insulin is the blood is the commenting signal to the liver to convert available excess glucose in the blood to glycogen and store it for future requirements.

Diabetes and liver

Once after the body cells consume the required glucose, still if the blood-sugar level remains high. Then the liver converts this excess sugar in the bloodstream into glycogen and stores it.
For any reason, if the blood-glucose level drops below a healthy level, mostly when we are in fasting. Our liver immediately responds to this situation by converting glycogen to glucose and released into the bloodstream for our energy needs.

If the liver releases glucose inappropriately, even when there is enough glucose in the blood (and insulin in the blood) may cause diabetes.

Diabetes Muscle cells

If the muscle cells do not consume glucose, even when there are enough glucose and insulin in the blood, called insulin resistance may cause diabetes.

Many studies confirm that a large quantity of fat storage in and around the abdominal organs affect the muscle cell’s sensitivity to the insulin hormone. Therefore, there is a low utilization of insulin, and thus, the blood glucose level in the bloodstream remains high.

Understanding diabetes organ’s defect & Type 2 diabetes

• if the pancreas is not able to release, enough insulin (or needed excess quantity of insulin) may cause Type 2 diabetes.
• If the liver is not sensitive to insulin or/and mistakenly dump glucose into the bloodstream even when enough glucose is already, exist may cause diabetes type 2.
• If the muscles’ cells are not sensitive to insulin, then it is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance prevents proper burning of the available glucose that raises blood glucose level, causing diabetes.

Diabetes pancreas damage and Type 1 diabetes

• Most of the cases of Type 1 diabetes is due to an autoimmune disorder. Our immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas by considering it as an enemy and causing damage to “islet cells,” which releases insulin. So there is no or low insulin secretion.
• Certain viruses may attack pancreas causing damage to “islet cells” that leads to no or low insulin secretion, causing Type 1 diabetes.
• Pancreatic disease – affect’s pancreas, leads to diabetes type 1.

Blood-glucose monitors help diabetics to keep track of their glucose levels wherever and whenever they want. The results allow them to make appropriate medical and lifestyle choices, also it is helpful to avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia episodes.

Glucose monitor overview

Glucose monitor is useful to measure the blood glucose level, which in-turn helps better diabetes management. Monitoring of the blood-sugar level allow them to make appropriate medical and lifestyle choices, also it is helpful to avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia episodes.

Other names for glucose monitor are blood-glucose monitor, glucometer, glucose meters, glucose monitors, diabetes monitor, diabetic meter, blood-glucose monitoring system, home glucose monitor.

The most common way to check glucose levels involves pricking a fingertip with an automatic lancet (lancing device - Lancet is a small instrument for pricking the skin with a quick-action fine needle.) to obtain a blood sample and placed on a disposable test strip then using a glucose meter to measure the blood sample’s glucose level.

How do you choose a Glucose monitor?

Important features to consider when selecting a glucose meter: choose a meter,

• Which is conveniently smaller, lightweight, and easy to carry with you?
• That requires a smaller blood sample means less pain.
• Testing speed - gives the result within seconds,
• Option to store test results such as date and time of the test. This helps to keep the record for doctor’s review.
• Other important features you can look for are no coding, high and low blood-glucose level warning, etc.
• Meter & Test strips cost

Glucose Monitor usage procedure

The following is the general instructions for usage of a glucose meter:

• First, set out your glucometer, a test strip, a lancet and alcohol prep pad.
• Wash your hands to prevent infection. Decide where you are going to obtain the blood from, usually a finger. Some of the newer monitors let you use your forearm or another less sensitive place.
• Turn on the glucose meter and place a test strip in the machine when the machine is ready. If coding is required, then enter it. Watch the indicator for placing the blood to the strip.
• Make sure your hand is dry and wipe the area you have selected with an alcohol pad and wait until the alcohol evaporates.
• Pierce your fingertip on the soft, fleshy pad and obtain a drop of blood. Place the drop of blood on or at the side of the strip.
• The glucose monitor will take a few moments to calculate the blood-sugar reading.
• You may use the alcohol pad to blot the site where you drew the blood if it is still bleeding.

Glucose meters and the strips, both have instructions for use, read carefully these instructions for proper use and accurate reading.

Glucose monitor - Cleaning & maintenance

Every monitor needs to be taken care of in order to function properly. Some need more cleaning and maintenance than others do and this may be another factor to consider in choosing a monitor. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding proper care of your monitor. This is important because a monitor may provide inaccurate readings if it is dirty, old, or stored at extreme temperatures.

Non-coded & Plasma glucose monitors

Confirm the glucose monitor is non-coded (now a day’s all the monitors available are non-coded still confirm) and confirm the readings are in plasma glucose (some glucose monitor gives blood-glucose value instead of plasma glucose).

Glucose levels in plasma (one of the components of blood) are generally 10%–15% higher than glucose measurements in whole blood (and even more after eating).

The battle against diabetes continues amidst persistent research. To date, there is no known cure for diabetes, however; products are so vast that a diabetic and their family can practically have normalcy back in their lives.

Diabetes help systems for better diabetes care

Diabetes help should be primarily come from within the family next comes from diabetes help products such as:

• Diabetes meter or glucose meter, 
• Continuous glucose monitor, 
• Diabetes pen / Insulin pen, 
• Diabetes pump / Insulin pump, 
• Jet injector, 
• Auto injector
• Ketone testing strips

Diabetes products enable diabetics and their loved ones, to feel that they are not alone in fighting this disease. Help comes at a time most needed, particularly when the world struggles to find a cure for diabetes. Diabetes help product brings benefits to the community involved in the life of the diabetics.

So how is this help best realize then?

Diabetics should learn about these new products and its usage and help themselves to fight against diabetes in a convenient or with less discomfort.

For diabetics, the first thing is to manage the glucose level in target range. For this we have to check it regularly, thus we are in need of a convenient blood glucose monitor.

For maintaining the blood-glucose level in target value, we need insulin shots. For this, we need a convenient insulin injecting systems such as insulin pen, insulin pump, jet injector or auto injector.

At some times, if the blood-glucose is too high, then there may be a chance for ketoacidosis episode. It is a dangerous one, need to diagnose early, and corrected it in time. For proper diagnosis, we need to test ketones in urine; it made simple with ketone testing strips.

Diabetes can fight, handle, and manage effectively with diabetes help products. You can achieve a healthier lifestyle with these convenient diabetes help systems.

Diabetes Breastfeeding

There is no reason for a healthy woman with diabetes should not breastfeeding her baby.

• Baby in intensive care - can breastfeed after he/she is discharge from intensive care.
• Snack before nursing - helps to avoid a sudden drop in glucose level caused because of breastfeeding. Have a glass of milk before nursing the baby helps to maintain the blood-sugar.
• Increase fluid and caloric intake - to balance the excess calorie’s requirements for the milk productions.
• Minor infections - a pain or redness around the nipples or on the breasts must be promptly and quickly treat with antibiotics. Usually, you need not to stop nursing because of it.

Importance of diabetes breast feeding

• Breastfeeding will provide young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
• Colostrum - yellowish sticky breast milk, produced at the end of pregnancy, is highly recommended as the perfect food for the newborn, and feeding should initiate within the first hour of birth.
• Breastfeeding is strongly advisable up to six months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with necessary additional foods up to two years or beyond.
• Breast-feed babies have limited chances to have hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes later in the life.
• Evidence that who were breastfed performs better in intelligence tests.
• Infant’s formula does not contain the antibodies normally found in breast milk and is linked to water-borne diseases.

Breastfeeding also benefits mothers - Limits the risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in the life, helps women back to their normal weight faster, and lowers the chances of obesity.

You have to learn breastfeeding properly, and many women come across difficulties at the beginning. Such as nipple, pain and fear that there is not enough milk to sustain the baby are common.

Causes of diabetes can be due to any defect in insulin production, insulin action, or both; diabetes is a disease marked by high levels of blood glucose.

What are the causes of diabetes?

The exact diabetes causes of both types are still unknown, still managed to identify some general diabetes causes.

Type 2 diabetes causes

In a healthy individual, the pancreas releases insulin to help the body to store and use the glucose from the food; we eat. Type 2 diabetes causes may be one or more of the following:

• The pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin and causes diabetes.
• The body does not correctly respond to insulin (that is not sensitive to insulin), a condition called "insulin resistance," which causes diabetes.
• Alternatively, both insulin shortage and insulin resistance causes diabetes.\

Type 1 diabetes causes

Some genes may be behind the type 1 diabetes causes, but mostly the following trigger it:

• Autoimmune disorder - our body immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and losing its ability to produce insulin that leads to diabetes.
• Pancreas beta cells damaged by cystic fibrosis or pancreatic surgery can cause high blood glucose called diabetes.

Gestational diabetes causes

Gestational diabetes is a metabolic disorder that happens during the later stages of pregnancy. It is difficult to pinpoint the gestational diabetes causes, but have some clues of its origins.

The fetus provides with necessary nutrition via the placenta during pregnancy. Placenta not only supplying the feeding to the fetus but also releases some hormones like cortisol and estrogen. These hormones are essential for the health and growth of the fetus. Unfortunately, these hormones block the insulin receptors of the cells, which cause a high level of blood glucose. It usually begins about 20 to 24th weeks of pregnancy.

Does overeating sugar develop diabetes?

Diabetes type 1 can develop by unknown factors that trigger the onset. Type 2 develops based on how many risk factor you have and how severe it is. Taking too much sugar is considering as one of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes; however, that alone will not develop type 2 diabetes.

Eating sugar, sweets, or desserts do not cause diabetes. Unhealthy eating habit is one of the risk factors for diabetes. However, that alone does not cause diabetes, still when in combination with other diabetes risk factors that can cause diabetes. If you eat right and exercise regularly, then you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes type 2.