Diabetes occurs when your body can’t properly manage blood sugar, or glucose, which is the main fuel for your cells. This happens because the pancreas either doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin, or the body can’t use the insulin it produces effectively. Insulin’s job is to act like a key, unlocking your cells so glucose can move from the bloodstream into your muscles, liver, and other organs to be used for energy. Without enough working insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Treating high blood sugar often involves a combination of strategies. The most direct approach is insulin therapy, which involves injecting insulin to replace what the body is missing. There are also medications that can help in other ways:
- Some drugs prompt the pancreas to produce more insulin.
- Other medications make your body’s cells more sensitive to insulin, allowing it to work better.
- Another class of drugs works to reduce the amount of glucose that the body needs, easing the burden on insulin.
The need for specific treatments depends on the type of diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin. For them, insulin injections are not just a treatment—they are essential for survival. Without insulin, their blood sugar can become dangerously high, leading to severe dehydration and a life-threatening condition called ketoacidosis, where the body starts burning fat for energy, producing toxic acids.
In contrast, most people with Type 2 diabetes still make some insulin. Their condition is often managed with the non-insulin medications first. Insulin is typically added to their treatment plan only if their blood sugar remains too high. While someone with Type 1 diabetes will need insulin for life, a person with Type 2 diabetes might be able to stop taking it if they can manage their condition through other medications, diet, and exercise.
Regardless of the type of diabetes, it’s important to remember that insulin is not addictive. When it’s needed, it can be a true game-changer, improving well-being and preventing serious complications. The main risk is hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which is why it’s crucial to use insulin under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
About the author
Hertzel Gerstein
Hertzel is an endocrinologist and professor at McMaster University who is in high demand as a speaker, advocate, and educator on diabetes-related topics. His research focuses on using large, international randomized trials to identify and test new ways of preventing type 2 diabetes, reducing serious health outcomes like strokes and death, and achieving type 2 diabetes remissions.