Insulin, diabetes sufferers with juvenile diabetes know, must be supplemented regularly in order for the body to work properly. Known as a chronic autoimmune disorder, the supplementation of insulin is a lifelong activity that cannot be undertaken, stopped, and then once more started. Adding insult to injury is the fact that the only safe mode of supplementation of insulin at this point in time is via subcutaneous injection. Children in particular find this a distasteful aspect of the disease and must be taught early on how to overcome a sense of squeamishness and also how to stay on schedule for their injections instead of getting sidetracked.

Understanding insulin, diabetes, and the need for its supplementation begins with an understanding of the insulin used itself. A synthetically prepared copy of the normally systemic occurring hormone, at this point in time there are three of more nationally and also internationally known pharmaceutical giants that are manufacturing the substance. Marketed under various brand names, there are subtle differences to the formulation of the insulin and also the supplementation, and it is imperative for the patient to be intimately involved in her or his care at all times to ensure that a through understanding of the substance and its needs in present.

Differences in the various formulas are actively exploited by physicians who are seeking to adjust the supplementation their patients dependent on the insulin — diabetes-1 sufferers are considered to be drug dependent for the sake of discussion — are relying on and when matching a brand to a body type there are several key factors coming into play, most notably the amount of insulin the body is still able to produce naturally and also the speed with which the body will reply to a spike in bodily glucose levels rising in the blood stream.

Bar none, the fastest acting formulation of synthesized insulin can reverse heightened blood glucose concentration in as little as five to 15 minutes, actively maintaining its regulatory properties for a bit longer than about three hours. This is a great emergency dose or a formula that may come in handy if a sufferer misjudged their need or timing for insulin. Diabetes leaves little room for error, but fortunately with such a formula on hand the worst bodily symptoms may be warded off.

The next step down is a formulation that should be considered an intermediate. Effective changes in the blood glucose levels will not be measurable for about one hour, sometimes this might even take longer, but the regulatory properties stay intact for more than 18 hours! The slowest acting formulation will provide round the clock effectiveness but at the same time it may take up to four hours to become effective in the body. Quite obviously this is not the type of insulin to use in an emergency. This underscores why physicians are hesitant to prescribe this form of insulin unless the bodily response to glucose is well documented and does not spike erratically but follows a predictable course upon the ingestion of nutrients.