Insulin Therapy & Diabetic Medications

Insulin Therapy
Many types of insulin are now being used to treat diabetes. Regular insulin, which was discovered in 1921 and developed from pork and beef insulin, is still being used today, however it is now made synthetically. Nph, 70/30, 75/25, Humalog, Novolog, and Lantus are common insulins currently used to treat diabetes. With the development of newer insulins, there are also newer devices for injections. Insulin pens have made using insulin easier and more convenient. The Diabetes & Endocrinology Institute offers a two-hour class teaching the timings of insulin, how to draw up and inject insulin, and how to use the new insulin pens. Combination therapy using oral hypoglycemic agents (pills) and insulin is common. The use of these medications is discussed in the Self-Management Training Classes.

Insulin pump therapy is providing better blood glucose control for many patients with type 1 diabetes and is also being used with some patients with type 2 diabetes. Insulin pumps use a computerized program to deliver basal and bolus insulins. Our endocrinologists at the Diabetes & Endocrinology Institute are very knowledgeable of insulin pump therapy and our certified diabetes educators are also certified insulin pump trainers. Insulin Pump Initiation is a four-hour class offered to all beginning pump users. Intensive Insulin and Carbohydrate Management for Pump Users is a two-hour class offered to insulin pump users who need additional assistance in the management of their blood glucose.

The Intensive Insulin and Carbohydrate Management class is taught by a registered dietitian and a registered nurse and it addresses how to adjust insulin doses based on blood sugars and carbohydrate intake. A food log and blood glucose record for two weeks is beneficial in determining changes to insulin.

Diabetes Medications
The following is a list of all diabetes medications available to date:

Pills
Actos (pioglitazone)
Amaryl (glimeperide)
Avandamet (combination of Avandia and metformin)
Avandia (rosiglitazone)
Diabenese (chlorpropamide)
Diabeta/Micronase (glyburide)
Fortamet (metformin HCl extended release)
Glucophage (metformin)
Glucophage XR (metformin extended release)
Glucotrol (glipizide)
Glucotrol XL (glipizide extended release)
Glucovance (combination of glyburide and metformin)
Glynase (glyburide)
Glyset (miglitol)
Metaglip (combination of glipizide and metformin)
Prandin (repaglinide)
Precose (acarbose)
Riomet (metformin oral solution)
Starlix (nateglinide)

Insulins
Humalog (lispro)
Humalog Pre-mixed 75/25
Humulin 50/50
Humulin 70/30
Lantus (glargine)
Lente
Novolin 70/30
Novolog (Aspart)
Novolog Mix 70/30
Regular NPH
Ultralente

These medications and their side effects are discussed in the Diabetes Self-Management Training Classes. If you have any questions about your medication, please call to speak with a diabetes educator at (813) 615-7262.

<< back | Diabetes & Endocrinology Institute Home home