Diabetes and Insulin
If you’ve been newly diagnosed (or have a loved one who has), you probably have questions about diabetes and insulin.
People with diabetes have a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone used to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.
People with diabetes do not naturally produce enough insulin in their pancreas. This results in high blood glucose, which, over time, can result in serious health problems.
Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce any insulin at all. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of Americans with diabetes have Type 1.
Type 2 Diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), and a lack of insulin produced by the body. Most Americans with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which usually develops after age 40.
Diabetes and Insulin Facts
- Your body’s need for insulin varies throughout the day. For example, you usually need more insulin right after meals when your body is busy processing the glucose from the food you’ve just eaten. At other times — when you are sleeping, for example — your body needs much less insulin.
- Most people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes are placed on human insulin (created via recombinant DNA methods), although insulin from pork is also used.
- Insulin must be injected because it is a protein (the body’s digestive system would break it down if it were taken orally).
- Insulin is classified according to how long the insulin works (e.g., short-acting, long-acting, etc.).
Call Liberty Medical Supply
While insulin and syringes are not covered by Medicare, many other diabetes testing supplies are, including blood glucose test strips and monitors, lancets and insulin pump supplies.* As a Medicare participating provider, Liberty Medical Supply delivers a world of diabetes testing supplies right to your door. See if your diabetes testing supplies are covered by Medicare with one simple phone call to Liberty.** Call toll-free 1-866-373-8971.
* Insulin and syringes are not covered by Medicare; however, insulin may be covered if infused through a pump.
** Co-payments and deductibles apply.
Source: The American Diabetes Association
Tags: diabetes and insulin, Diabetes Management, Insulin, Type 1 diabetes
