Ask the Expert

The University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center is committed to providing accessible and trained health care professionals to answer your questions relating to diabetes care and management.

Please send your questions to asktheexpert@uchospitals.edu. (Please note: Due to volume, we may not be able to answer each individual question submitted.)

Question #1:
I have type 2 diabetes. I am afraid of needles, but my doctor told me it is time for me to start taking insulin injections. Can you tell me more about injecting insulin, especially about the needles?

Answer #1:
Insulin is a hormone that your body produces to help convert the food you eat into energy. People with diabetes might need insulin injections either because they don't produce enough insulin in their bodies or they can't properly use the insulin that they do produce or both. There are many different types of insulin and also different ways to inject insulin. Insulin can be injected using a syringe, insulin pen, or insulin pump. Syringes are the least expensive form of insulin delivery available. Syringes come in several sizes, with a variety of needle lengths and gauges (thickness). Insulin pens carry insulin in a self-contained cartridge. Insulin pens use pen needles that should be changed with each use. Insulin pen needles also vary in needle length and gauge (thickness). Your doctor or diabetes educator can assist you in choosing the size that works best for you. It's natural to be nervous about injecting insulin for the first time. Keep in mind that insulin needles today are very thin and made to lessen discomfort. They are also lubricated so that they enter the skin easily with minimal pain. You can view an insulin injection demonstration at this link.

Question #2:
My friend, who also has diabetes, was recently hooked up to a device called a continuous glucose monitor. What is this, and can I use it instead of checking my blood sugars every day?

Answer #2:
A continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) is an FDA-approved device that records glucose levels throughout the day and night. A CGMS can reveal low and high glucose trends not tracked by finger sticks alone, which allows you to discover new insights to fine-tune your diabetes care plan and improve control. It works by inserting a sensor just under the skin. The sensor produces a very small electrical signal that is actually the information about the amount of glucose in the body fluid around the sensor (interstitial fluid). The higher your glucose, the higher the electrical signal will be and the lower the glucose, the lower the signal. This information is sent to a pager-sized device called a monitor, which you can attach to your belt or waistline of your pants. It is important to note that the monitor is receiving electronic signals, not blood sugar values. Therefore it is important to continue to test your blood sugars and enter at least four values into the monitor each day. It is not a replacement for checking your blood sugars. There are a few different CGMS devices available, please contact your doctor or diabetes educator for more information.