Insulin is a hormone made by pancreas. The main function of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into the body's cells and regulate blood glucose levels. Glucose is the main source of energy for our body, most of the cells use glucose as a fuel and for that they require the presence of insulin.

In diabetes, our body makes less insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively. Insulin deficiency results into inability to utilize glucose, resulting into the state of hyperglycemia. When external insulin is injected in the body, it acts as a replacement or supplement to cover the deficiency of insulin and helps to utilize the glucose and maintain the blood sugar in normal range.

Your doctor may suggest insulin, if any of the following situation is there i) When oral tablets fail to control blood sugar ii) When very urgent control of diabetes is needed iii) In presence of other sickness for speedy recovery iv) If some tablets are contraindicated for the patient or creating any side effects

Not really. With longer duration of diabetes, people stop responding to oral tablets. It may happen in 10 years for few patients, or it may happen in 15 to 20 years for some patients. Hence, for better control of diabetes, insulin is recommended.

Insulin can be administered through a pen or through a syringe (special syringe is designed for insulin). Depending upon the need of the patient, doctor may recommend any one of these options A) Xglar pen B) Xglar vial C) Xglar one pen For more detailed information watch our Xglar Videos

Pen injection needle is very thin and short, assuring less or no pain during pricking. The dosing of insulin with Pen injection is very accurate. Patient does not have to draw insulin from the vial. Thus, insulin administration becomes very easy and quick.

Xglar insulin can be initiated with 0.2 units per kg per body weight per day (most guidelines suggest this start dose) or in simple terms 10 units per day. In certain situations, doctor may take a decision to select the dose based on patient’s condition and urgency to control diabetes. But also remember that, this start dose has to further increase based on fasting blood sugar in most patients and needs gradual titration.

After initiation of Xglar, fasting and pre-dinner blood sugar is monitored. The frequency of blood glucose monitoring can be either daily or once in 3 to 7 days based on advice given by a doctor.

The target blood sugar in fasting or pre-prandial state is around 100 mg/dl. The aim is to reduce blood glucose and stabilise between 80 to 120 mg/DL. Xglar dose is frequently increased to achieve the target but, it is not adjusted looking at any post-meal blood glucose levels.

Patient is advised to continue diet regimen as suggested by doctor or by nutritionist/diabetes educator. No special modification in diet is required.

Firstly, insulin is a physiological agent, naturally made by our body and it is not a new chemical entity. Xglar insulin is a very potent blood sugar lowering agent. Not only it acts promptly to lower the blood sugar but also the degree of blood sugar level reduction ie. HbA1c control is as desired by a doctor. Secondly, Xglar insulin offers the feeling of wellbeing. It is an anabolic agent thus helps to regain weight which was lost due to high diabetes. Lastly, insulin maintains good control of diabetes, thereby preventing long-term complications of diabetes.

There are no side effects of insulin as such. Excess effect of insulin results in lowering of glucose below the normal range, which is called hypoglycemia. Few patients do gain little weight while getting controlled on insulin in initial 2-3 months period.

When insulin is initiated, you must avoid eating extra food/calories and you must follow more stricter dietary regimen.

Some of the common symptoms of hypoglycemia are, headache, palpitation, excess sweating, excessive hunger, irritability, blurred vision, mental confusion, drowsiness etc. Please check your blood sugar if you experience such symptoms. Few patients develop unusual symptoms which make the diagnosis of hypoglycemia difficult.

Timely food and timely medication are the best ways to avoid hypoglycemia. But, frequent snacking is not necessary as this may cause weight gain or hyperglycemia.
An important precaution is to avoid delaying your food. Reduced quantity of food also can precipitate hypoglycemia, if insulin dose is not reduced appropriately. Understanding carbohydrates in the diet (especially carbohydrate counting) helps in minimising blood sugar fluctuations.

Sometimes hypoglycaemia can be silent and asymptomatic. In such situation, your doctor may advise you to carry out a test on CGMS device like Circa CGMS or Medtronic CGMS device for one to two weeks for a better understanding of your blood sugar behaviour.

Xglar insulin is a slow acting insulin working for 24 hours (basal insulin) and it is not designed to cover the meal effect as a meal insulin (bolus insulin).

There are quick acting insulin which provide rapid lowering of sugar and they work only for 4 to 6 hours (short acting). Meal insulin provides a higher concentration of insulin immediately to control food-induced hyperglycemia, for a short period of time.