Facts About Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes

It’s important to understand how your body works when you have diabetes. Learning the facts about the different types of diabetes, your treatment options and insulin will help you make wise decisions regarding your health. Click on the links below to get started.

	Types of Insulin			Treating Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes
	Facts About Type 1 Diabetes			Low blood glucose (sugar) level
	Facts About Type 2 Diabetes			Managing Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes

Types of Insulin
Your body changes most of the food you eat into glucose, a type of sugar. This sugar travels in the blood to the cells in your body. Insulin is a hormone made by your body to help sugar move from the blood into your body cells. That’s where your body changes sugar into energy. People without diabetes have insulin levels that go up and down based on their blood sugar levels. They release insulin at a steady rate through the day and night, and in bursts during meals.

• The steady rate of insulin is called “basul” (bay-zul) insulin
• The burst of insulin during mealtime is called “bolus” (boh-luss) insulin

Depending on the type of diabetes you have, either your body doesn’t make insulin, doesn’t make enough insulin, or doesn’t use insulin in the right way.

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Facts About Type 1 Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), it is estimated that 5% to 10% of Americans with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes don’t make any insulin. Although it can occur at any age, type 1 diabetes is more commonly diagnosed in children and young adults. The cause is unknown, but there are many factors that may play a role, including genetics.

For information on other Novo Nordisk products that can help treat type 1 diabetes, click here.

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Facts About Type 2 Diabetes
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes may still make some insulin. The problem is, they either don’t make enough insulin, or the body doesn’t use the insulin they produce in the right way. Millions of people around the world have type 2 diabetes.

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Treating Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes with Insulin
People with type 1 diabetes must treat their diabetes with insulin since thier bodies do not naturally make any insulin. Some people with type 2 diabetes can treat their diabetes with meal planning, regular physical activity, and pills. But because diabetes changes over time, most people with type 2 diabetes will eventually need to take insulin. Needing insulin does not mean your diabetes is worse or that you didn’t follow your diabetes care plan. It just means that your body can no longer make enough insulin, or properly use the insulin you do make. There are different types of insulin:

• Intermediate- or long-acting insulin takes care of the body’s basal needs
• Short- or rapid-acting insulin takes care of the body’s bolus needs

NovoLog® Mix 70/30 is one insulin that works in two ways. It can help cover both the body’s bolus needs at mealtime and the body’s basal needs for up to 24 hours.

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Low blood Sugar Levels
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is the most common side effect of treating diabetes with insulin. It can occur when you’ve taken too much insulin, or you have missed a meal. It can also occur when you are more active than usual.

Symptoms of mild-to-moderate hypoglycemia include: