Diabetes Treatment Methods
July 29, 2008
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.
More extensive treatments may involve drugs other than insulin.
One such advanced option, the Sulfonylureas (like Micronase and Glucotrol) aid the body’s insulin production. This medicine is useful for Type 1 diabetics, since they produce inadequate insulin. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by inefficient insulin use; Biguanides (like Glucophage) help the body use insulin more efficiently.
Drugs which act on the glucose levels are also used. Meglitinides (Prandin) are used to control the blood glucose level after eating. The absorption of sugars during digestion can be slowed with Alpha-glucosiadase 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.
The importance of diet can be deduced by the strong connection between Type 2 diabetes and obesity. If you carry most of your weight around the waist you are especially at risk. In such cases, losing sufficient weight may bring the blood glucose levels back to normal so that no medications are needed.
Lifestyle adjustments for weight loss bring other benefits as well. Heart health is improved by regulating the type and number of carbohydrates, drinking alcohol in moderation, and making other nutritional changes; this reduces the chance of stroke and heart attack.
The blood glucose level is directly lowered by regular physical activity. Exercise improves immunity and brings other benefits. One important benefit is stress reduction. Stress can make diabetes worse, by affecting the hormones that regulate insulin, yet people are often stressed by worrying over their diabetes. By improving overall health, exercise along with an attitude adjustment, can reduce stress.
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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