How long before insulin? I take pancreatin because my pancreas does not break down fats.When I was informed I had diabetes I was told it would be sooner than later before I would be on insulin,this was in hospital.I now take 2 850 mg metformin daily 2 80mg gliclazide and 3 60mg nateglinade and sick of it.I take about 12 pancreatin daily and on top of all this penicillin because I have no spleen, and other bits and bobs.My nurse at the doctors cannot give me the answer