Injections
A fine needle and syringe or an insulin pen – available in disposable or refillable varieties – is used to inject insulin under your skin. Needles are also available in a variety of sizes, so you can find one most comfortable for you.
If you choose injections, you will likely need a mixture of insulin types to use. Multiple daily injections that include a long-acting insulin, such as Lantus or Levemir, combined with a rapid-acting insulin, such as Apidra, Humolog or Novolog, more closely mimic the body's normal use of insulin than older regimens requiring just one or two insulin shots a day. Three or more insulin injections a day have been shown to improve blood sugar levels 2,4,5.
Insulin pump
An insulin pump, about the size of a deck of cards, comprises a tube connecting a reservoir of insulin to a cannula inserted under the skin of your abdomen. This pump can be worn on your waistband, in your pocket, or with a specifically designed belt.
Pumps are programmed to dispense a specific, continuous dose of rapid-acting insulin, known as your basal rate, which replaces whatever long-acting insulin you were using to maintain blood glucose levels between meals and overnight 4,8.
Programme the pump with the number of carbohydrates you are eating and your current blood sugar and it will give you a "bolus" dose of insulin to cover your meal and correct your blood sugar if elevated. Research has found an insulin pump can be more effective than injections at controlling blood sugar levels in some people 4,8.