Insulin Therapy Made Easy

Book excerpt: Insulin is a protein hormone that is used as a medication to treat high blood glucose. This includes in diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2, gestational diabetes, and complications of diabetes. This book is a concise guide to the basics and clinical pharmacology of insulin, and the practical aspects of its use. Beginning with an overview of the development of insulins and normal physiology and metabolism, the next section examines different types of insulin (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and mixed). The following sections cover insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and in specific population groups. The book concludes with discussion on practical aspects of insulin therapy. Authored primarily for postgraduate medical students, the practical text is further enhanced by clinical images and diagrams to assist learning. Key points Concise guide to the prescription and use of insulin therapy for postgraduate students Explains different types of insulin and their specific uses Covers type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and specific population groups Clinical images and diagrams further enhance learning