Question

Compare and contrast the effects of insulin and oral medications for type 1 and type 2 diabetics. What patient education is necessary?

Answer 1

1.Effect of insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs in type 1 diabetis -

insulin - . The most important cause for type 1 diabetics is autoimmune pathology or any unknown cause which leads to the destruction of beta cells of the pancreas which inturn leads to nil insulin production. So this is type is called INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES - this type completely relies upon insulin which we supply for the management .

oral hypoglycemics - they increase the insulin production or decrease the resistance of the body to insulin . So it is not effective here in type 1 Diabetes.

Patient advice - should be made aware of their condition and the importance of external insulin supply . They can be in the form of insulin injections , insulin pen and pump etc . So they should take insulin at the right time before or after meal to avoid hyperglycemia.

2. Effect of insulin and oral drugs in type 2 diabetis

Insulin - this type of diabetes is caused because of increased resistance of the body to the insulin . Insulin level in the body may be normal or decreased . So insulin can be given in all forms of diabetes including type 2 because incase of decreased levels of production this will help.

oral hypoglycemic drugs- this is a must for type 2 Diabetes because these drugs increase the productivity and also decrease the resistance of the insulin and interferes in the insulin metabolism and makes the body use insulin and bring about decrease in blood glucose level .

patient advice - can use insulin externally of not responding for oral drugs .

Physical exercise and diet also helps in maintaining the glucose level in the body because during exercise body will use glucose in absence of insulin .

Combined form of 2 groups of oral drugs does the work much better than using metformin alone which is the first line drug used to overcome insulin resistance.