I've been told by my Dr. that my pancreas has shut down and no insulin is being produced. What options do I have available?

Patty Bonsignore


If your pancreas is not producing enough insulin, you will need to take medicine to make up for the lack of sufficient insulin. The type of medicine you are prescribed will depend on how insulin deficient you are. When you say “shut down” it sounds like your doctor feels that you are producing very little insulin. If this is the case, you will most likely need to take insulin by injection several times a day. The reason for taking it several times a day is because the body needs a constant supply of insulin – referred to as “basal insulin” -- all day long. Basal insulin is taken one to two times each day. In addition to this, your body needs extra insulin, called “bolus insulin,” to cover your meals.B olus insulin is taken with meals and snacks. If your body is still making insulin but not quite enough, there are pills to help your pancreas make more insulin on its own. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will have to take injections of insulin, if you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor might prescribe pills first and then add insulin as well. It really just depends on what your blood glucose levels are. If you do not understand what type of diabetes you have or what your options are, it might be a good idea to see an endocrinologist, which is a doctor who specializes in diabetes .

April 21, 2012 at 10:24 am