Insulin and Other Diabetes Meds: The Benefits of Early Treatment

Starting Meds Early Can Help

It's human nature to delay unwanted tasks. Especially tasks that involve pricey diabetic prescription drugs, syringe needles, and daily blood sugar checks. But when people with type 2 diabetes (PWDs type 2) delay starting blood glucose-lowering medications, it's not good medicine.

"We now know that type 2 is a progressive disease that requires serious attention from day one," says Virginia Valentine, R.N., CDE, PWD type 2, a clinical nurse specialist and co-owner of Diabetes Network, Inc., in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mounting evidence shows that early, aggressive management of blood glucose can make caring for type 2 easier down the road. Too often, however, we're slow to act -- especially when it comes to adding and changing medications.