Take Medicines as Prescribed

There are many types of medications for adults with type 2 diabetes. They work in different ways to help the body make or respond to insulin better.
Sometimes pills for diabetes — even when combined with diet and exercise — aren't enough to keep blood sugar levels under control. Some people with type 2 diabetes also have to take insulin injections. The only way to get insulin into the body right now is by injection with a needle or with an insulin pump. If a person tried to take insulin as a pill, the acids and digestive juices in the stomach and intestines would break down the medicine, and it wouldn't work.
There are different kinds of insulin used for different purposes. The types of insulin you use and the number of shots you take each day will depend on what's best for you and your daily schedule.
Once you've had your insulin injection, you can't stop the medicine from working. If you take an insulin shot but forget to eat, your blood sugar levels can get too low. So try to avoid skipping meals or snacks. If your parents remind you to eat when you take your insulin, it's probably because they worry about you, not because they're trying to nag you! Your diabetes health care team will teach you how and when to give yourself insulin shots.