Question:
I am 60 years old and recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. There are also a lot of diabetics around me, some of them ask me to use insulin**, saying that it works well, and some people say that I have non-insulin-dependent diabetes and don't need insulin at all. I'm confused about this. Excuse me, should I take insulin or not?
For a long time, diabetes was divided into type 1 (insulin-dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin-dependent). However, with the deepening of diabetes research, modern diabetes experts generally believe that such a simple classification is not reasonable, because the vast majority of diabetic patients who develop in childhood and some diabetic patients who develop diabetes in middle and old age need to use insulin**.
The latest classification method is to classify diabetes into four main types, namely type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is now referred to as diabetes caused by pancreatic B cell dysfunction (i.e., defective insulin secretion) and insulin resistance, including non-insulin-dependent diabetes and adult-onset diabetes.
Experts believe that people with type 2 diabetes need to use insulin if they have any of the following seven conditions**
Patients with fasting blood glucose above 10 mmolL and poor response to oral hypoglycemic drugs**;
Patients with severe liver and kidney impairment after using oral hypoglycemic drugs;
Patients who have been complicated by kidney disease, retinopathy, neuropathy;
Patients who are already pregnant. Because oral hypoglycemic drugs can affect the normal development of the fetus;
Patients who have to use drugs that are not conducive to diabetes due to comorbidities with other medical conditions;
Patients who require surgery or have developed a severe infection;
Patients who are allergic to oral hypoglycemic drugs (such as tolbutamide, mefomine hydrochloride, etc.). Therefore, insulin is necessary when the above indications are met in patients with type 2 diabetes**. If the above conditions are met, insulin should be used**. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor for a detailed examination before choosing a drug to avoid delaying the diagnosis and treatment.