Do people with type 2 diabetes have to take insulin because they have failed to control their diabetes?
By the time many people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, their bodies have been working hard to make extra insulin to lower their blood sugar levels. Only about half of the beta cells in the pancreas are left to make insulin. The cells in their bodies have also become insulin resistant and can’t make good use of the insulin the pancreas is making. Also, blood sugar levels may have been high for many years. This may have already caused diabetes-related health problems, such as damage to the heart, eyes, and nerves. As type 2 diabetes progresses, the body’s ability to make enough insulin declines. Over time, diabetes pills may not be enough to bring down blood sugar levels. Insulin injections become necessary. This does not mean that you have done anything wrong or have failed to control your diabetes. It just means that your body has changed and needs a different type of treatment.
