If you can afford it, I recommend buying and reading "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/188...Fencoding=UTF8
You don't have to have an insulin pump to benefit from this book (though reading it will probably make you want a pump). He goes over carb counting, basal rates, bolus rates, etc., and how to figure those out. It's a worthy read.
The insulins that you have been put on will keep you alive, especially once you get them "dialed in". The only reason I push the newer insulins is because in general other diabetics have found them to be better for control and quality of life. Don't worry about your confusion with this disease, initially it is A LOT to swallow and deal with...but it gets better.
