The areas where insulin has been injected can atrophy, causing skin problems. Insulin from human sources is less irritative to the body, less stimulative to antibody systems and is better tolerated than most other kinds. These are indicated for type II diabetes and in non-pregnant adults and most types of secondary diabetes. They stimulate the islets to release insulin and possibly decrease insulin resistance. Side effects include hypoglycaemia, rash, nausea and an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Drugs are the first line method of treatment if the situation allows it.
In the elderly, who cannot try other modalities of treatment, these are very helpful. Even for the middle-aged with maturity onset diabetes, it might be easy to reduce the sugar levels with a drug or insulin and then switch over to, or add, the important component of exercise. In the long run, unless the tool of exercise is introduced, metabolic control is not satisfactory in all the types of diabetes. High intensity exercise reduces blood glucose and fatty acids are used for energy. Exercise training enhances the action of drugs and increases insulin sensitivity.