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Treatment and Management of Diabetes
Treatment for diabetes:
Specific treatment for diabetes will be determined by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- type of diabetes
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
Treatments for type 1 and type 2 diabetes are described below.
Type 1 Diabetes
Persons with type 1 diabetes no longer produce insulin, and they must have insulin injections to use the glucose they obtain from eating.
Persons with type 1 diabetes must give themselves insulin every day. Insulin can either be injected, which involves the use of a needle and syringe, or it can be given by an external or internal insulin pump, insulin pen, jet injector, or insulin patch. Extra amounts of insulin may be taken before meals, depending on the blood glucose level and food to be eaten.
Insulin cannot be taken as a pill. Because it is a protein, it would be broken down during digestion just like the protein in food. It must e injected into the fat under the skin for insulin to get into the blood. The amount of insulin needed depends on height, weight, age, food intake, and activity level. Insulin doses must be balanced with meal times and activities, and dosage levels can be affected by illness, stress, or unexpected events.
Type 2 Diabetes
Although persons with type 2 diabetes may continue to produce adequate insulin for some time, their bodies can become incapable of using it. This syndrome is know as insulin resistance, and may indicate the need for oral medications that can help stimulate the pancreas to release insulin or optimize the body's ability to use the insulin secreted.
Diet and exercise can often bring blood glucose levels down to normal. When these measures are no longer enough, the next step is the addition of medications that lower blood glucose levels.
