Tag: basal insulin

  • If You Don’t Have Health Insurance, Here’s How You Can Buy Insulin Cheap and Safely

    If You Don’t Have Health Insurance, Here’s How You Can Buy Insulin Cheap and Safely

    The current state of healthcare is tumultuous with the new presidential administration still battling with the other governmental branches on health insurance regulations. If you’ve gotten caught up in the crossfire and find yourself uninsured, here’s how you can get your diabetes mellitus medical care at a lower cost.

    Obamacare has been repealed in some states, and still an uncertainty in others. The battle has only led to an increase in health insurance premiums and medical care costs. If you have diabetes mellitus and require insulin therapy to manage your blood sugar levels, you know how important health insurance is because it seems like your life depends on your doctor’s prescriptions. But did you know you can buy insulin without a prescription, and at a lower cost?

    It’s true, and it’s great news if Trump’s healthcare reform has caused you to become uninsured, but it’s not without its dangers. Here’s a little bit on how to buy insulin without a prescription safely:

    Can You Really Buy Insulin Without a Prescription Legally?

    Is it really possible to buy insulin without a prescription without getting into legal trouble? Most doctors don’t even know this, but yes it’s been possible for decades. In fact, 15 percent of Americans who buy insulin get it without a prescription. Both the FDA and the American Medical Association (AMA) allow this because they rationalize that insulin access should be open in the case of emergencies when diabetes mellitus patients need to buy insulin for immediate blood sugar control and don’t have the time to ask their doctor for a prescription.

    But of course these products are over-the-counter for a reason. They’re not super-concentrated, which means they won’t provide the same all-day coverage as some newer basal insulin prescription brands. The two most popular manufacturers you can buy insulin without a prescription from are Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. But both use older formulas that aren’t as efficient as their newer prescription insulins. They take much longer for your body to metabolize them, which means they won’t offer prompt blood sugar level control.

    And chances are, you can’t buy insulin over-the-counter with the dosage you require.

    But if none of these difficulties pose risks to you, then you’ll be happy to know that if you buy insulin over-the-counter brands, they’re probably within the $25 range, which is considerably cheaper than your usual prescription.

    Get Trained to Prepare Your Own Insulin Dose

    If you don’t know how to prepare the proper concentration of insulin for your dose, then it’s dangerous to buy insulin over-the-counter if the limited brands don’t offer your dosage requirements. If your dose isn’t strong enough, your blood sugar levels may be elevated enough that long-term use of over-the-counter insulin can lead to nerve, eye, and kidney damage. If your dose is too strong, it can lead to low blood sugar levels – which can present as uncomfortable symptoms, like cramping and weakness.

    Improper doses administered at inappropriate intervals can lead to huge fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which can only harm your body in the long term.

    But the good news is you can get trained to prepare your own insulin dose for an inexpensive fee or even for free. For example, in the U.K. there’s the DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating) program that’s a 5-day course where licensed experts train you to calculate the glycemic contents of your meal and prepare a suitable insulin dose to manage it. Researchers found that diabetes mellitus patients who underwent the DAFNE program ended up with about 8.4 percent better blood sugar level control than those who didn’t.

    Ask your doctor or a licensed health professional about where you can go to get trained to prepare your own insulin dose.




    How to Get Insulin Syringes for Free

    Now that you’re more or less ready to buy insulin without a prescription, there’s still the issue of where to buy insulin syringes. The good news is that in some states you don’t need a prescription to buy insulin syringes – like Kentucky and Washington.

    But you can also buy insulin syringes without spending any money at all! It might not be the humblest feeling – but drug abuse disease transmission prevention programs offer free needles and syringes to people at partner hospitals and clinics. In the U.K., there are mobile and fixed delivery systems where suppliers give out free needles and syringes at popular sites and healthcare facilities. Some of these even make home deliveries!

    There are also specialized vending machines you can buy insulin syringes from, which offer a discounted price for the deterrent of drug abuse-transmitted diseases.

    These programs are active in over 150 countries, including the U.S.. Chances are you’ll find free syringes and needles close to where you live.

    You Can Also Get Help From Diabetes Mellitus Assistance Programs

    If you’d rather buy insulin that’s specific to your dosage requirements, you can apply for diabetes mellitus assistance programs that offer discounted prescription insulin if you’re approved. For example, if you’re uninsured, BD Medical offers its BD Ultra-Fine Insulin Syringes if you’re financially disadvantaged. If you have diabetes mellitus type 1, you can also apply for the ACT1 Supply Exchange Program where you may buy insulin and other diabetes mellitus supplies at lower prices.

    If you live in New Jersey, the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. offers temporary prescription insulin and other diabetes mellitus supplies to financially disadvantaged diabetes mellitus patients. But it’s only temporary – you have to show that you’re working on a long-term solution for your diabetes mellitus medical care.

    There are also prescription assistance programs in every state that can help you buy insulin at the dosages you require. For example, Pennsylvania offers the PA Free Prescription Drug Card that offers up to 75 percent off specific insulin pumps and other supplies. You should inquire with your local hospital or pharmacy for information on these prescription assistance programs.

    Now that you’re a bit more informed on how to buy insulin without a prescription, you can begin to manage your diabetes mellitus without having to rely on health insurance. With the proper training and research, you should be able to competently keep your blood sugar levels under control at all times. But keep in mind that nothing can replace a doctor’s proper supervision and the accurate efficacy of prescription insulin. In the long run, it’s healthier to see your doctor and be on his prescribed diabetes mellitus medications.

    References:

    npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/12/14/459047328/you-can-buy-insulin-without-a-prescription-but-should-you
    bmj.com/content/325/7367/746
    temple.edu/lawschool/phrhcs/otc.htm
    avert.org/professionals/hiv-programming/prevention/needle-syringe-programmes
    pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs/diabetes_programs_supplies#syringes
    pennstatehershey.psu.edu/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=3d2d7fde-d33f-4340-bd65-a643d6a7f7e8&groupId=220862

  • 3 Important Guidelines You Need to Know for Less Pain and Better Absorption When Using Basal Insulin Needles

    3 Important Guidelines You Need to Know for Less Pain and Better Absorption When Using Basal Insulin Needles

    If you’ve been prescribed basal insulin for diabetes mellitus, you’re probably required to inject it directly into your bloodstream using basal insulin needles. This can be a daunting task because most people generally don’t deal with injections on a daily basis. Here are a few important pointers to keep in mind.

    1. Choosing the Right Basal Insulin Needles

    When buying the best basal insulin needles for you, most medically certified brands and types will work competently to deliver your dose. But the quality of your experience and rate of absorption wholly depend on your budget.

    Choose thinner, sharper basal insulin needles for the least amount of pain during injections. These have higher gauges and are more expensive. But even the sharpest basal insulin needles can dull after a single use, and Western Carolina University recommends that you reuse basal insulin needles only once more. That means you effectively cut your expenses for basal insulin needles by half every month by reusing them once, but you’ll most likely also experience more pain during injections.

    But regardless of how many times you’ve used your basal insulin needles, you must replace them and any used storage vials every month.

    Larger doses of basal insulin can also cause more pain if injected all at once because of the greater pressure. Experts recommend splitting a large dose of 30 units or greater, but doing so means you’ll be using twice as many basal insulin needles.

    Experts also recommend you buy short basal insulin needles to avoid penetrating sensitive muscles beneath the target fat, which could cause undue pain. They recommend choosing basal insulin needles that are 6 millimeters or shorter.

    As you can see, it all boils down to how much money you can spend on your diabetes mellitus medical expenses every month. The more money you can spare for basal insulin needles, the less pain you’ll feel during each injection.

    2. Other Ways to Minimize Pain for a Better Long-term Experience

    If you have diabetes mellitus type 1, basal insulin needles will be something you’ll have to deal with for life. If you can learn to make each injection a bit more pleasant, it helps you better live your life in the long run. Lessening the pain you feel during each injection is one such way. Besides choosing the right basal insulin needles and splitting large doses as mentioned above, here are some other important pain-relieving tips you should following during injections:

    • Numb the injection area with ice beforehand.
    • After drawing the basal insulin into the syringe, let it warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before injecting. Cold, refrigerated basal insulin can add a stinging feeling during the injection.
    • After disinfecting the injection site with rubbing alcohol, wait until it completely dries before proceeding. Alcohol causes a stinging sensation to open wounds, like the puncture wounds from basal insulin needles.
    • Relax the muscles at the injection site because tense muscles can make your nerves more sensitive. (Read more about this below.)
    • Pinch the injection site beforehand to make sure penetration is quick, which should be less painful. But release the pinch before injecting the basal insulin to ensure none leaks out from the puncture wound.



    3. Choose the Appropriate Injection Site to Boost Your Basal Insulin Absorption During Injections

    Although it doesn’t matter as much for basal insulin as opposed to bolus insulin, you can boost the rate of absorption during injections by choosing to do a few simple things. One is to massage the injection site beforehand to boost absorption (and as stated above, it also lessens the pain).

    You should also practice rotating injection sites to avoid lowering the rate of absorption. If you inject into the same exact spot for multiple times, it can lead to irritation, inflammation, and other conditions and chronic damage that can lower the rate of basal insulin absorption. Instead, pick a different spot within the same area (injection site) for the subsequent injections, and only return to the original spot once it’s healed.

    But remember to stay consistent with injecting into the same injection site because your body is used to basal insulin being delivered from there. Abruptly changing to a completely new injection site leads to a greater variation in your basal insulin levels.

    However, if you’re about to go play tennis and you usually inject into the back of your arm, then you should choose another injection site that’s not going to be used during any activity or exercise you’re about to undergo. The same is true for any activity and the injection site affected.

    One of the biggest factors in basal insulin absorption is the actual injection site. Experts say the best absorption site is the abdomen – two inches away from the belly button. This area has the quickest rate of absorption. The buttocks is the injection site with the slowest rate of absorption.

    The back of the arm, between the shoulder and the elbow, is the second best injection site with a fast rate of absorption, but it’s difficult to pinch the skin there – which means injections may be more painful.

    The outer thighs are the third best injection site with a slightly lower rate of absorption. Choose a spot at least four inches above the knee, but not above four inches from the top of the leg. Also make sure you do the outer thighs and not the inner thighs because they’re filled with more blood vessels and nerves, which would mean more pain when basal insulin needles penetrate the skin.

    A Few Final Reminders

    If basal insulin needles are lifelong partners for you, staying consistent can be a struggle in the long run. But people are creatures of routine, and incorporating your basal insulin needles into your daily routine can lessen your chances of misdosing.

    You can make injection time the same time you do other routine things – like brushing your teeth, flossing, before your daily jog, or other daily activities. You can also set your cell phone alarm to remind you of upcoming doses – the beauty of smartphones is you can keep them on you at all times and they can have multiple alarms set with minimal effort.

    To make sure you’re getting the proper dose, inject at a 45-degree angle and keep the basal insulin needle in for a few seconds before pulling out. Doing both ensures less leakage.

    Start following these important guidelines to make your basal insulin needle injections more pleasant. You’ll also boost your rate of basal insulin absorption. You can also talk to your doctor and insurance provider about increasing your basal insulin needles coverage because you’d like to feel less pain everyday (and explain that chronic pain can lead to lower mental wellbeing and other negative health consequences).

    References:
    wcu.edu/WebFiles/PDFs/Insulin_Injection_Pro_Tips_AADE.pdf
    joslin.harvard.edu/info/how_to_improve_the_insulin_injection_experience.html
    diabeteswellbeing.com/insulin-syringes/
    diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/insulin/insulin-storage-and-syringe-safety.html

  • Could Diluting Basal Insulin Degludec Make It Safe for Use With Children?

    Could Diluting Basal Insulin Degludec Make It Safe for Use With Children?

    Basal insulin degludec seems to be the answer to the issue of a stable basal insulin that lasts for 24 hours or more with a single dose. But because it’s fairly new, it’s still not permitted for use with anyone under the age of 18. But could dilution be the answer?

    The manufacturer of basal insulin degludec states that it provides a steady supply of basal insulin for over 40 hours. It’s been found to lower the risk of hypoglycemia significantly compared with other current basal insulin alternatives. But currently, the diabetes mellitus medication isn’t approved for use with children. This is unfortunate because children with diabetes mellitus are more susceptible to hypoglycemia when on basal insulin therapy. Novel dilution preparations of basal insulin degludec are ideally the solution for pediatric diabetes mellitus patients.

    Why Children With Diabetes Mellitus Are More at Risk for Hypoglycemia When on Basal Insulin Therapy

    Basal insulin shots’ effectiveness can depend on when you take them. Some diabetes mellitus patients report that administering their basal insulin before sleeping causes hypoglycemia during the night – doctors and patients also report that other activities immediately before or after a basal insulin shot affect its activity. The problem is that children have very dynamic schedules and habits – they eat and sleep at variable times everyday and have random spikes in physical activity. They also fast for long periods at random times. All of these factors brew up a nightmare for basal insulin stability – and children below 6 years old have 250 percent higher risk of developing hypoglycemia than older children when on basal insulin therapy.

    But children with diabetes mellitus are also under-treated with only about 20 percent of pediatric patients staying within the recommended normal range of blood sugar levels. Researchers say a major cause is the insufficient basal insulin medications available for children. It’s currently a challenge to formulate smaller doses of basal insulin shots of current FDA-approved brands with the accuracy and stability needed to keep steady coverage while avoiding the risk of hypoglycemia.




    Diluting Basal Insulin Degludec Could Be an Ideal Solution for Children With Diabetes Mellitus

    Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Elvira Isganaitis of the Joslin Diabetes Center says that diluted basal insulin preparations are kind of rare, but are in need by children and diabetes mellitus patients with increased insulin sensitivity. She says that Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of basal insulin degludec, has only released a U-200 version of the basal insulin shot, which is a more concentrated form rather than a diluted preparation.

    The good news is that doctors and other healthcare professionals specializing in pediatric diabetes mellitus know how to dilute currently available basal insulin medications to achieve suitable doses for children, like the commonly used U-10 preparation for preschoolers.

    The problem is that the necessary diluent solution for basal insulin degludec hasen’t been formulated. Pharmacists don’t even know what it is – which makes it very difficult for doctors to obtain. And when doctors do prepare a diluted basal insulin solution, it only lasts a few weeks. Parent can be trained to dilute basal insulin, but that’s assuming there’s diluent solution they can get at a pharmacy or hospital.

    If Novo Nordisk formulates a ready-to-use U-10 or similar diluted concentration of basal insulin degludec, it would mean less hardship for both pediatric doctors and parents. The diluted basal insulin degludec would be superior in helping prevent hypoglycemia in children with diabetes mellitus, while also providing longer coverage – which means fewer unpleasant injections. If the company can boost the diluted preparation’s shelf life, it would make it cheaper, which means it would be more accessible.

    Basal insulin degludec could play a significant role in curbing the under-treatment of diabetes mellitus in children. The key is creating a diluted preparation that can be mass produced for general accessibility.

  • What You Need to Know About Basal Insulin Degludec

    What You Need to Know About Basal Insulin Degludec

    Basal insulin degludec is a fairly new type of long-lasting insulin that may show promise in lessening the number of basal insulin shots required by diabetes mellitus patients. Here’s what you need to know.

    Initially, physicians stated that one basal insulin shot provides enough hyperglycemic protection for 24 hours. But researchers found that one injection of nph basal insulin or basal insulin glargine (and other alternatives) doesn’t provide enough coverage to last the full day. They also can cause hypoglycemia during the night when diabetes mellitus patients are asleep, and spike blood sugar levels in the morning before breakfast.

    Basal insulin degludec is a new insulin analog that boasts providing coverage for 42 hours. It can also be taken at any time in the day with a lower risk of blood sugar spikes in the morning and low blood sugar in the evening. That’s because once it’s injected into your bloodstream, it forms a very stable complex that houses the basal insulin and releases it slowly, which results in a steady supply of basal insulin for a long period of time. Basal insulin glargine attempts the same stable housing complex, but it deteriorates faster than basal insulin degludec’s, which leads to too much basal insulin being released and that can lead to hypoglycemia and insufficient coverage.

    In fact, basal insulin degludec is 75 percent more stable than basal insulin glargine. This means the variability in basal insulin delivery is considerably lessened, which means there’s less likelihood that it will release significantly lower or higher amounts of basal insulin at any given time during coverage. In a 365-day clinical trial of 1030 diabetes mellitus patients, basal insulin degludec’s risk of hypoglycemia during nighttime sleep was 36 percent lower than basal insulin glargine’s. Even better – basal insulin degludec’s overall risk of severe hypoglycemia was 86 percent lower than that of basal insulin glargine’s.

    The Downsides of Basal Insulin Degludec

    Remember that basal insulin degludec is a relatively new drug, which means not all potential side effects are known at this point. It’s so new that it’s not even approved for use for anyone under 18 years old.

    The National Institutes of Health found that regularly taking basal insulin degludec causes respiratory symptoms, like sneezing, coughing, and runny nose, in about 23 percent of diabetes mellitus patients. Eleven percent experienced headaches and upset stomach.

    They also found that, on average, long-term administration of basal insulin degludec causes weight gain of about four pounds in diabetes mellitus type 1 patients. Diabetes mellitus type 2 patients, on average, gained almost 6.7 pounds.

    The FDA also cautions the usage of basal insulin degludec because they’ve cited evidence that it may increase the risk of cardiovascular events by about 60 percent. But their evidence is lacking and not significant enough given the shortness and indirectness of the clinical trials involved. They say that for diabetes mellitus type 1 patients, there’s not a significant difference in effectiveness between basal insulin degludec and basal insulin glargine. They recommend that only diabetes mellitus type 2 patients use basal insulin degludec until more research can explore the new drug’s potential cardiovascular risks.

    But a recent study involving over 7,500 diabetes mellitus patients for about two years found that basal insulin degludec carries only a minimal elevated risk of cardiovascular problems than basal insulin glargine.

    This doesn’t mean that this new drug is completely safe — remember that it’s possible that not all of its adverse effects have come to light. In fact, experts are still cautioned (in some cases prohibited), from prescribing it to pregnant women because its effects on pregnancy are still somewhat unknown.




    Important Matters to Keep in Mind Before Choosing Basal Insulin Degludec

    You can’t get basal insulin degludec without a prescription, but even if it’s prescribed to you, there are things you should keep in mind to lower any possible risk of complications.

    If you’re close to or living with other people who have diabetes mellitus, don’t share syringes or needles. Some non-STD diseases can be transmitted by blood, and sharing the same syringe is an unnecessary risk.

    Because the drug is so new, it’s going to be significantly more expensive. If you’re not having a significant struggle with your current basal insulin prescription, then you can ask your doctor to keep you on it instead of incurring a larger financial burden that you may not be ready for.

    But placing these cautionary matters and potential hidden dangers aside, this new drug seems to live up to its praise. Many doctors, like Dr. Steve Edelman, M.D., are convinced of the current clinical trials concerning basal insulin degludec and are currently prescribing it to their diabetes mellitus patients who are fit candidates. They remark that it is superior in terms of lowering the risk for hypoglycemia and providing a reliable supply of basal insulin throughout the day and even longer.

    If you have diabetes mellitus type 2 and are having coverage issues with your current basal insulin medications, consider asking your doctor about basal insulin degludec. But also keep in mind that it’s a new drug with potentially unknown other side effects.

  • How Exercise Can Naturally Raise Your Basal Insulin Sensitivity

    How Exercise Can Naturally Raise Your Basal Insulin Sensitivity

    If you’re suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2, your doctor may have prescribed basal insulin shots to help you manage your blood sugar levels. But basal insulin therapy can also cause some unwanted side effects, and some serious conditions. Naturally boosting your basal insulin sensitivity with exercise may be a safer way to help keep your blood sugar levels normal.

    What Is Basal Insulin?

    Everyone, both diabetes mellitus type 2 sufferers and non-diabetics, has low background levels of insulin circulating in their bloodstream to allow cells to take in sugar to fuel their life-sustaining processes. This background insulin is called basal insulin. Long after you’ve eaten, fat is broken down into sugar to help keep your blood sugar levels normal – basal insulin thus also helps to ensure the sugar from broken down fat don’t reach high levels.

    But both diabetes mellitus type 2 and type 1 sufferers produce not enough basal insulin to keep the sugar from fat breakdown from building up to high levels in their bloodstreams.

    How Basal Insulin Fits Into Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Treatments

    Artificial and natural basal insulin can be given to diabetes mellitus patients if they’re not making enough or any of their own basal insulin. Diabetes mellitus type 2 patients aren’t given basal insulin until their blood sugar levels can’t be managed by most other medications. If metformin is in the first line of pharmacological intervention, then basal insulin is in the last line of diabetes mellitus type 2 treatment.

    Most diabetes mellitus type 2 medications are taken orally, but basal insulin shots are injected subcutaneously. This can be very discouraging for diabetes mellitus type 2 patients because now they’ll have to inject themselves routinely – which isn’t something most people start out feeling comfortable with. The good news is, researchers have developed oral basal insulin tablets that are as effective as basal insulin shots.

    Even though about 60 percent of diabetes mellitus type 2 patients progress to require basal insulin shots to manage their blood sugar levels, they still feel the stigma that their condition is worsening. From their diabetes mellitus education, they know that diabetes mellitus type 1 patients require basal insulin, while diabetes mellitus type 2 patients don’t always need it.

    When their doctors tell them he needs to add basal insulin therapy to their treatment, for some it’s like they’re losing the distinction between their condition and diabetes mellitus type 1. They understand that their pancreas may have become impaired and is now producing lower levels of basal insulin or none at all. They know very well that this is the situation diabetes mellitus type 1 patients are born with or develop – and now they’ve reached the same circumstances.

    The possible adverse effects of basal insulin shots contribute to the fear diabetes mellitus type 2 patients feel about them. If they administer incorrectly, they could risk developing hypoglycemia, which is a risk present even when they follow their doctor’s instructions to the letter. The effectiveness of a basal insulin shot also changes with the time you administer, your routine activities surrounding the time of administration, and your eating habits. That’s why the basal insulin shot routine is highly individualized and must be curtailed to a specialized fit for each diabetes mellitus patient.




    How Exercise Helps Lower the Number of Basal Insulin Shots You Need Daily

    Researchers may have found hope for naturally helping diabetes mellitus patients better manage their basal insulin and lessen their dependency on basal insulin shots. They found that a single bout of moderate to vigorous exercise, like cycling for 15 minutes, boosts overall insulin sensitivity for a maximum of 48 hours.

    If you have diabetes mellitus and your pancreas is still producing basal insulin, this means that exercising makes your cells more receptive to these low levels of basal insulin. This causes your blood sugar levels to drop more so than they normally would. This means that exercising makes your body require fewer or lower doses of basal insulin shots.

    But researchers caution that this increased insulin sensitivity goes away if you stop exercising for six to eight days straight. They conclude that exercising regularly will maintain this whole-body insulin sensitivity boost.

    If you’re being prescribed basal insulin shots, exercising is a safe and natural way to help you make a stand against your diabetes mellitus. Exercising regularly lowers your dependency on your basal insulin therapy and helps you avoid scary side effects like hypoglycemia and weight gain that come with taking basal insulin.

  • Doctors May Have Formulated a Way to Treat Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 by Taking Basal Insulin Directly by Mouth

    Doctors May Have Formulated a Way to Treat Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 by Taking Basal Insulin Directly by Mouth

    Researchers may have invented a way for diabetes mellitus type 2 patients to get their basal insulin by simply popping a tablet rather than injecting themselves.

    If you have diabetes mellitus type 2 and dread the basal insulin shots, you might soon be in luck. Researchers announced they’ve successfully created a basal insulin delivery system where you swallow a tablet by mouth and the basal insulin is released and absorbed in your small intestine.

    They ran clinical trials to see if their newly created oral basal insulin tablet is as effective as the basal insulin shot. In one study, 50 diabetes mellitus type 2 patients who couldn’t adequately manage their blood sugar levels using metformin (and other oral diabetes mellitus medications) were separated into two groups. For two months one group was instructed to take the new oral basal insulin tablets thrice daily. The other group was instructed to continue their basal insulin shots as normal.

    To keep the participants blind to the study, both were also given tablets and shots that contained a placebo – so both were getting tablets and shots daily, but only one form contained real medication. Both groups were allowed to continue their metformin treatment, but most other oral diabetes mellitus medications were stopped for the duration of the study.

    After the two months were over, the oral basal insulin tablet group’s fasting blood sugar levels dropped to about 73.71 percent of what they were during the start of the study. The basal insulin shot group’s fasting blood sugar levels dropped to about 73.78 percent of what they were during the start of the study.

    The researchers concluded that the slight difference in effectiveness is negligible and insignificant, stating that the oral basal insulin tablets are as effective as the basal insulin shots. They also found that the oral basal insulin tablets are safer than the basal insulin shots because they caused 50 percent less hypoglycemic events (episodes when your blood sugar falls too low) than the basal insulin shots.




    But these researchers don’t think this particular study’s results should be widely embraced just yet. They say more clinical trials are needed because the current study’s duration is too short and with only a small sample of diabetes mellitus type 2 patients. It’s always possible that side effects and other adverse interactions can come to light with a larger sample size of diabetes mellitus type 2 patients who take the oral basal insulin tablets for a longer period of time.

    You can still look forward to the near future when you’ll hopefully never have to prick yourself with a basal insulin shot to keep your blood sugar levels normal, while instead simply pop a tablet or two in your mouth!