For type 1's its not bad, its what stop them from dying (blunt, but true)
For type 2's I think it appears to be seen as a 'failure' in respect that diet and exercise, meds fail and insulin is the last resort. I agree for some it might be a best first resort but it all ties in IMHO with the dietary advice issues, as alluded to by hana. If you follow standard advice (ie no sugar, healthy heart diet) then you will not control bg by this method alone to any great degree. Insulin lets people eat what they want (in theory) thereby not having to change a life(style).However I agree, that the theory is fine but practice can still result in horrible bg even with insulin.
In general terms with insulin -risk of hypos is serious and fatal, can restrict your driving license, prevent you from getting some jobs, puts weight on you (even if controlled, small doses it does still seem to happen). You also have to inject which is stressful for some people and all the paraphanelia that goes with it on holidays, trips out etc etc. A personal gripe with it for me is that I feel there is a bit of the unknown with it in terms of longer term effects. Some suggest recombinant DNA based insulin are linked to changes in mitochondria and have long term effects
Also, lantus was passed remarkably quickly from trial to market by the FDA.
Anyway, conspiracy theories over!
If id had the choice, and was type 2 I personally would be overjoyed at the option of diet and exercise than having to inject. But im not, so it's do or die for me im afraid! :wink: