shots

Most of the time I do not have to take shots. When I was first diagnosed, when I
was 11, I did have to take shots. It seemed like I had to give myself shots all the
time. That was hard to learn. Most kids don't like to get shots, and most kids
certainly cannot imagine having to give themselves shots. AND, certainly, most
kids cannot imagine having to give themselves shots 6 times per day!!! It is NOT
fun. When you have type 1 diabetes, and you get your insulin from shots, you
have to have 2 different kinds of insulin. One is long-acting. It stays in your
body for a long time, to provide a steady level of control for the sugars in your
blood. Usually, the patient would only need one of these shots per day - either
in the morning or at night. The other type is short-acting insulin. This insulin
begins to lower sugar levels much more quickly than the long acting. A type 1
diabetic patient must take a shot of this type of insulin each time they eat - any
time they eat - EVERY time they eat! That means a LOT of shots each day.