Management of diabetes depends on several factors like type of diabetes, patients age, body weight, comorbidities or existing medical conditions alongwith diabetes.
The goal of is to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as safely possible as defined by the ADA and targets are individualized accordance to the patient’s needs.
Since diabetes increases risk for heart disease and measures to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels are an essential part of diabetes treatment as well.
People with diabetes must take responsibility for their day-to-day care.
This includes monitoring blood glucose levels, dietary management, maintaining physical activity, keeping weight and stress under control, monitoring oral medications and, if required, insulin use via injections or pump.
Modifying eating habits and increasing physical activity are typically the first steps toward reducing blood sugar levels.
Patients need to work with their doctor and certified dietician to develop a dietary plan.
Type 1 Diabetes develops due to insulin deficiency and therefore insulin therapy is the only and best treatment for Type 1 diabetes.
Insulin Therapy
People with type 1 diabetes require multiple insulin injections each day to maintain safe insulin levels. Insulin is often required to treat long standing or uncontrolled type 2 diabetes too.
Using an insulin pump is an alternative to injections. The pump is about the size of a pager and is usually worn on your belt. Insulin is delivered through a small tube (catheter) that is placed under the skin (usually in the abdomen).
There are five major types of insulin:
Rapid-acting
Short-acting
Intermediate-acting
Long-acting
Ultra long acting
Your doctor will determine your dose and how often you need to take insulin. There is no standard insulin dose as it depends on factors such as your body weight, when you eat, how often you exercise and how much insulin your body produces.
Oral Medications
Sometimes blood sugar levels remain high in people with type 2 diabetes even though they eat in a healthy manner and exercise. When this happens, medications taken in pill form may be prescribed.
The medications work in several different ways. These include improve the effectiveness of the body’s natural insulin, reduce blood sugar production, increase insulin production and inhibit blood sugar absorption.
Oral diabetes medications are sometimes taken in combination with insulin.