Treatment
Treatment aims to:
- Maintain blood sugar at levels as close to normal as possible
- Preventing or delaying complications (regular medical care is important for this)
Diet
- Follow a balanced meal plan. Eat consistent and moderate amounts of food at regular times.
- Do not skip meals.
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fiber .
- Eat limited amounts of fat .
- Eat moderate amounts of protein and low-fat dairy products .
- Carefully limit foods containing sugar .
- Keep a record of your food intake. This will help a dietitian or doctor advise you.
Weight Loss
If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about a reasonable weight goal. You and your doctor can develop a safe diet program for you. Weight loss will help your body respond better to insulin.
Group education may help people recently diagnosed with their goals in weight loss. * 8
Exercise
Physical activity:
- Can make the body become more sensitive to insulin
- Will help you reach and maintain a healthy weight
- Can lower the levels of fat in your blood
- Has been found to improve blood sugar control— Aerobic , fitness, and resistance training can help to improve hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. * 2 This is a measure of your average blood glucose levels over the past three months. Researchers have also found that long-term strength and endurance training may improve HbAIc, even if participants didn't lose weight. * 12
Talk to your doctor about any restrictions. Work with your doctor to make an activity plan. Even a brief counseling session may help to increase your activity levels. * 9
Diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease. Exercising can help to reduce your risk for heart disease.
Oral Medication
Medications taken by mouth may be used to lower blood sugar:
- Drugs that prompt the cells in the pancreas to make more insulin (eg, sulfonylureas [ glyburide , tolazamide] )
- Insulin sensitizers—a class of drugs that help the body better use insulin (eg, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone )
- Starch blockers—a class of drugs (eg, acarbose and miglitol ) that lessen glucose absorption into the bloodstream
- Drugs that reduce the production of glucose by the liver (eg, metformin )
- Amylin analogues (eg, pramlintide )
- Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DDPP-4) inhibitor (eg, sitagliptin )
- Incretin-mimetic (eg, exenatide )
Some studies showed that the use of certain drugs to reach very low blood glucose level may increase harm. Talk to your doctor about your drug program. * 3,6,7,10
Insulin
In some cases the body does not make enough insulin. Insulin injections may be needed.
This is needed when blood sugar levels are not kept low enough with lifestyle change and medicine
Blood Glucose Testing
Checking blood glucose levels during the day can help you stay on track. It will also helps your doctor determine if you treatment is appropriate. Testing is easy with a blood glucose monitor. Keeping track of blood glucose levels is especially important if you take insulin.
The HbA1c may also be done at your doctor's office. Doctors advise that most keep their HbA1c levels below 7%. This level can help to avoid diabetic complications.
Regular blood sugar testing may not be needed in patients with type 2 diabetes. It may not be needed for those whose condition is under reasonably good control without insulin. * 4 Talk with your doctor before stopping blood sugar monitoring.
Alternative Therapies
One study focused on people with a specific type 2 diabetes. When given vitamin E they showed a decrease in the rates of heart problems. * 5
If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions .
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
Improved
480 HealthChanged
215 LivesSaved
160 LivesPopular this Week
Connect with Women Like You 190 Women Care About this Condition
You're not alone. Connect with other women who are going through what you're going through, who understand and are here for you!
+ Join this Community
