If you have type 2 diabetes and haven’t started using insulin—or have just started using insulin—you may want to find out more about insulin and what it might mean for you. Your doctor will recommend if you need to start using insulin. It is common for people with type 2 diabetes to need a combination of medicines for treatment. Insulin is one of these medicines and is effective for reducing high blood glucose levels. Even so, many people with type 2 diabetes have concerns or feel anxious about starting insulin. If you feel this way, you are not alone. There are many things you can do to adjust to this new way of managing your diabetes. What products are available to support me? The NDSS gives you access to a range of subsidised products to help you manage your diabetes once you’ve started using insulin. If you start to use insulin or an approved injectable blood glucose lowering medication, you need to tell us so we can make sure you have access to the NDSS products and services you need. Medications (including insulin) are not available through the NDSS. You will need a prescription to buy these. Find out more. Get connected It may help to talk with others who understand what it is like to live with diabetes. It can be reassuring to know that other people face similar challenges and to share ideas about how to cope with them. Join a peer support group or online community. Find out more about peer support. Peer support for diabetes fact sheet Connecting with other people who have diabetes is an effective means of accessing peer support. Sharing your experiences with others can help you feel less alone. Download now Free access to diabetes programs Learn to manage your diabetes confidently with diabetes programs, available face-to-face and online. Register for a diabetes program. Living well with insulin This online program will help you feel more comfortable and confident caring for your diabetes. Find an online program. Ask the Expert A dietitian, exercise physiologist and diabetes educator will be available to answer your questions about type 2 diabetes. Find an online program Featured resources Insulin fact sheet Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to move from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. Different people need different types of insulin. Your treatment needs to be tailored to your needs. Download now Starting insulin (for people with type 2 diabetes) This booklet is for people with type 2 diabetes who are interested in learning more about insulin as a way of managing their diabetes, if their doctor has recommended starting insulin. Download Concerns about starting insulin (for people with type 2 diabetes) fact sheet Many people with type 2 diabetes have concerns or feel anxious about starting insulin. There are many things you can do to adjust to this new way of managing your diabetes. Download now Managing hypoglycaemia fact sheet Hypos can occur in people who use insulin and some other types of glucose-lowering medications. Learn about how to recognise the signs and manage hypoglycaemia. Download now Fear of hypoglycaemia fact sheet People with diabetes often worry or become fearful about hypos. There are many things you can do to reduce the risk of hypos and ease your fears. Download now
