Medicines to treat diabetes have come a long way since insulin
was discovered in the 1920s. Whether your child takes insulin or
pills or both to control diabetes, it's important to follow the
diabetes management plan prescribed by the diabetes health care
team to avoid problems and reduce the risk of side effects.
Insulin is a hormone that allows sugar, or glucose, to get into
the body's cells to be used for energy. All people with type 1
diabetes and many people with type 2 diabetes need to take
insulin every day. The overall goal of treatment with insulin
(and other diabetes medications) is to achieve the best match
possible between the amounts of insulin given and the person's
individual needs for insulin throughout the day and night. In
this way, blood sugar levels can be kept as close to normal as
possible to help avoid both short- and long-term problems from
diabetes. Treatment plans are designed around the pattern of
insulin normally supplied by the pancreas throughout the day in
someone without diabet