| Unfortunately it often works out that many people | | | | diabetic health can be extremely expensive. |
| with type 2 diabetes develop a need for insulin to | | | | That is because nerve and muscle tissues suffer |
| keep their blood sugar levels under control. For about | | | | more injury from fluctuating blood sugars than from |
| 30 years the most common low-cost insulin | | | | constantly high or constantly low blood sugars. Even |
| treatment has been Novolin 70/30, a mixture of 70% | | | | type 2 diabetics who are able to achieve HbA1c's of |
| "slow" insulin and 30% "fast" insulin. | | | | 6.5% or lower, get very high post-prandial blood |
| Novolin 70/30 is inexpensive... in the US it is 75% | | | | sugars with the risk of really low blood sugars in the |
| cheaper than other insulins and an easy name to | | | | middle of the night. Diabetic complications for users |
| remember. Diabetics, type 1 and type 2, take a fixed | | | | of 70/30 are worse than HbA1c numbers would |
| number of units of insulin once or twice a day. The | | | | predict. |
| problem with 70/30 is that you are absolutely sure to | | | | The only way to use 70/30 successfully is to be |
| have sugars that are too high or too low all the time. | | | | very careful about diet. You can never, ever eat |
| The "fast" component of 70/30 can't be raised to | | | | sweets. You must never, ever eat less than the |
| cover any increased carbohydrate consumption. If | | | | amount of carbs in your meal plan, and never, ever |
| you use 70/30, taking a little more "fast" insulin (30% | | | | eat more. And if you are using more than 100 units |
| of the dose) to cover increased blood sugars after | | | | of 70/30 a day, the insulin probably will not be |
| eating a cookie or two or three, requires you | | | | available when you need it, or it will be too available |
| receiving a further amount of "slow" insulin (70% of | | | | when you do not. |
| the dose) into your bloodstream also. | | | | If this kind of treatment is all you can afford, do |
| The problem with the Novolin R or "fast" component | | | | yourself a favor by at least limiting your portion size |
| of 70/30 is that it really isn't fast enough. Your blood | | | | while you gradually scale back your insulin injections. |
| sugars may still soar to 300 mg/dL (16.7mmol/L) or | | | | Then ask your physician about drug company |
| more after a meal when you don't eat sweets, and | | | | programs that provide a more appropriate medication |
| then plummet to 70 mg/dL (3.9mmol/L) or lower | | | | and, also keep in mind you get even better control |
| during the night. Taking 70/30 is relatively easy on | | | | over blood sugar levels by adding more plant foods |
| the monthly budget but the long-term price on | | | | to your eating plan. |