type 2 diabetis

[mister magic]

What is the difference between humalog, novalog and humilin?
What should my blood sugar be before I take insulin as a
type 2 diabetic

[14_1994]

i was recently diagonosed  with type 2 diabeties and i really do not know what is good for me to drink and eat and what is not  so if any one here might have some answers for me it wld be great for me and my parents

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

Just one more comment to add to what has already been written. Most endocrinologists will put a diabetic patient who uses insulin on a sliding scale of insulin, depending on what the blood glucose is when you test before a meal. The ideal is of course for glucose levels to be in the "normal" before meal range of between something like 70-126 (different doctors use slightly different numbers, but this is pretty typical). But we can't always have the ideal numbers -- if we DID, we wouldn't be diabetic! If glucose levels are higher than this, most patients are told to take a little extra insulin to lower the levels, and usually this is done by using a mathematical formula that is specific for YOU and your needs (the formulas vary from person to person). So you do need to ask your endocrinologist to work this out for you.

So the idea is to adjust the insulin dose in order to try to reach that ideal range as often as possible throughout the day.

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hello, Mister Magic!  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes.  Humalog and Novolog are different types of fast acting insulin, meaning that they are quickly absorbed into your system to immediately drop your blood sugar.  Some people find that one works more effectively than the other, so which is used is really up to the patient.  Humulin, more commonly called Humulin NPH, and even more commonly called just NPH, is a long acting insulin.  It is absorbed more slowly, and it's effects last longer, about 12 hours.  Usually NPH is used in combination with one of the fast acting insulins.  An alternative long acting insulin would be Lantus.  

As for your second question, it depends on your particular situation.  Type 2 is normally controlled through diet and exercise, and from what I understand that is the recommended to be addressed first, and insulin is given only when all else fails.  Please check with your doctor or endocrinologist to work out a plan to lower your blood sugars.