Diabetes Treatment Methods
Exactly how diabetes is treated depends on a number of factors: which type the patient has, how severe it is, the age of the patient and others.
For example, pregnant women may suffer from gestational diabetes, which most often begins between the 24th and 28th week; after birth this condition can disappear. If mild, gestational diabetes may need no treatment other than careful monitoring; other cases may need dietary adjustments or medications. On the other side of the spectrum, Type 1 diabetes is not curable with current methods and will generally need lifetime insulin treatments.
But there are other forms of treatment, many of them amounting virtually or literally to self-care.
While more advanced treatments rely on medications besides insulin.
For instance, Sulfonylureas (Micronase and Glucotrol) prompt the body to make sufficient insulin. These medications are used for Type 1 diabetes, which stems from low insulin production. Since Type 2 involves the inefficient use of insulin, Biguanides (Glocphage, and others), which increase the efficient use of insulin are helpful. Type 2 can also be treated with Thiazolidinediones (Avedia, and others) which increase the cells’ insulin sensitivity.
Some medications target glucose levels. For example, Meglitinides (Prandin) regulate the blood glucose level after eating. The digestive tract’s absorption of sugars is slowed by Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (Precose).
Every treatment option must be accompanied by careful monitoring of the blood glucose levels. This is important so that the patient and his or her health care provider can concentrate on finding the right treatment regimen.
Some cases of diabetes, especially Type 2, can be controlled through proper exercise and diet, without medication. Elevated glucose levels stemming from pre-diabetes, rather then full-blown diabetes are especially responsive to diet and exercise.
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are strongly correlated. People with excess fat primarily in the middle are especially at risk for diabetes. These people may be able to control their disease without drugs simply by losing enough weight or they may be able to go off diabetes medication once they have lost the weight.
Many factors play into such a lifestyle adjustment and they tend to have other beneficial effects. Careful control of the amount and type of carbohydrates, adjustment of alcohol intake and other dietary changes aid in reducing cardiovascular problems of many types, including heart attack and stroke.
Exercise directly affects diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels. Exercise also strengthens the immune system and provides other benefits. These benefits reduce chances of other ill effects from diabetes. Exercise reduces stress, which can affect how the body uses insulin and other hormones. Combined with attitude adjustment, exercise will greatly improve the diabetic’s physical and emotional health.
If insulin is needed in addition to diet and exercise, you may not need injections. Oral insulin has been successful. The FDA has also approved insulin inhalers as a diabetes treatment. Another option for some is the insulin pump; it monitors glucose levels automatically and releases the correct amount of insulin into the body.
If you suspect diabetes, don’t wait to get tested. Only a doctor can give the tests needed and determine if you have diabetes and what treatment you may need. The early you are diagnosed the easier diabetes is to treat.
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