Diabetes is a disease that causes an abnormally high level of sugar, or glucose, to build up in the blood.

Types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes - People who have this type of diabetes need to take insulin every day. This type of diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes -This type of diabetes can often be controlled by the food you eat and regular physical activity. Some people may also need to take diabetes pills or insulin. This type of diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes.

Instructions for insulin administration

• Wash hands.
• Mix insulin by either rolling between hands or by turning bottle slowly up and down. Do not shake.
• Clean rubber stopper with alcohol swab.
• Pull plunger back to the number of units of insulin you are to take.
• Holding syringe by the barrel push needle through rubber stopper and push plunger.
• Leaving needle and syringe in place turn bottle upside down. The tip of the needle should always be in the insulin.
• Draw insulin into syringe by quickly pulling plunger past dose then pushing back to correct dose.
• Before removing syringe from bottle check for air bubbles. If bubbles are present, push plunger all the way into the vial. Then slowly pull the plunger back to the line for your dose of insulin. Repeat this until there are no large air bubbles in the syringe.
• When you have correct dose of insulin, pull syringe out of bottle by holding onto the barrel. Replace needle cover.

Giving the insulin

• Select site and clean skin. Pinch skin up into a mound.
• While holding barrel insert needle at 90 degree angle (straight in). Make sure the needle is all the way in. If you are thin, you may need to inject at a 45 degree angle. Discuss this with your nurse.
• Push plunger slowly all the way down.
• Release the pinched skin, count to five slowly and pull the needle straight out by holding the syringe by the barrel.
• Press alcohol swab over injection site and wipe. (Do not rub area).
• Properly dispose of syringe: in a coffee can or liquid detergent bottle. Add a solution of one part disinfectant and ten parts water. When a can or bottle is full, tape the top close and dispose of it with regular trash.

Need of controlling diabetes

• Eye disease that can lead to a loss of vision or even blindness
• Kidney failure
• Heart disease
• Nerve damage that may cause a loss of feeling or pain in the hands, feet, legs, or other parts of the body
• Stroke

Healthy tips

• Eating a healthy diet.
• Getting regular physical activity.
• Taking medicine for your diabetes if your doctor tells you to.
• Testing your blood sugar.