Insulin Therapy

See Insulin Delivery. The two types of insulin therapy (1) conventional or (2) intensive starts when the body stops making insulin or makes only a tiny amount, without insulin a person with diabetes could not survive. Insulin is injected under the skin (in the fat) for it to work. Insulin cannot be taken in a pill or tablet since stomach fluids in the digestive system would destroy the hormone before the body can put it to use. It controls blood glucose levels. There is no cure for diabetes, but can be controlled by insulin injections (exogenous insulin), self monitoring of blood glucose, pancreas and islet cell transplants, oral hypoglycemic agents, or diet and exercise. If untreated can cause heart and kidney disease, blindness, problems in pregnancy or childbirth, nerve and blood vessel damage, and can reduce the ability to fight against infection.