Depending on the type of diabetes you have, glucose monitoring, insulin and oral medications play a role in your treatment. A pancreas transplant may be an option for people with diabetes is difficult to control.
But no matter what type of diabetes you have, a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight and keep an eye on your blood sugar in the blood are the keys to managing your diabetes.
Treatments for all types of diabetes
An important part of the General Manager of all types of diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight through a healthy diet and exercise:
A healthy diet. Contrary to popular belief, there's no diabetes diet. Not limited to food boring, bland. Instead, you will need plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains - foods that are rich in nutrition and low in fat and calories - and fewer animal products and sweets. In fact, the best eating plan for the whole family. Even sugary foods are okay once in a while, if they are included in your meal plan.
However, understanding what and how much food can be a challenge. A dietitian can help you create an eating plan that meets your health goals, food preferences and lifestyle. This may include carbohydrate counting, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.
Physical activity. Everyone needs regular aerobic exercise, and people with diabetes are no exception. Exercise lowers blood sugar by sugar transport in cells where it is used for energy. Exercise also increases your sensitivity to insulin, meaning that your body needs less insulin to transport sugar into your cells. Get your doctor's OK to exercise. Then choose activities you enjoy, like walking, swimming or cycling. What is important part of physical activity into your daily routine. Aim for at least 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise most days of the week. If you have not been active for a while, start slowly and build gradually.
Treatment of diabetes type 1 and type 2
The treatment of type 1 diabetes is insulin injections or use an insulin pump, frequent monitoring of blood glucose and carbohydrate counting. Treatment of Type 2 diabetes affects mainly the monitoring of their blood sugar with diabetes, insulin, or both.
Control your blood sugar. Depending on your treatment plan, you can check rates and record the times of blood sugar several times a week to three or more times a day. Careful monitoring is the only way to ensure that their level of blood sugar stays within the parameters. People receiving treatment with insulin may also choose to control their blood sugar with a continuous glucose monitor. Although this technology has yet to replace the meter, can provide important information on trends in the levels of blood sugar.
Even if you eat on a regular basis, the amount of sugar in the blood varies unpredictably. With the help of your diabetes care team, you will learn how changes in blood glucose in response to things like food, exercise, medication, illness, alcohol, stress, and - for women - the fluctuations hormone levels.
In addition to monitoring blood sugar daily, your doctor may recommend regular A1C testing to measure your average blood glucose over the last couple of months. Compared with repeated daily blood sugar tests, A1C testing better indicates how well your diabetes treatment plan is working together. A high A1C level may signal the need for a change in your insulin regimen or meal plan. Your goal A1C goals may vary depending on your age and other factors. But for most people, the American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C less than 7 percent. Ask your doctor what your A1C target is.
Insulin. Anyone who has type 1 diabetes need insulin treatment to survive. Some people with type 2 diabetes, also need insulin therapy. Because stomach enzymes interfere with oral insulin, oral insulin is not an option to lower blood sugar. Often, insulin is injected using a fine needle and syringe or an insulin pen - a device that resembles a fountain pen, with the exception of the cartridge is filled with insulin.
Insulin pump can also be an option. The pump is about the size of the mobile device worn outside the body. The tube connects the catheter insulin reservoir that is inserted under the skin of the abdomen. Tubeless pump that operates wirelessly is now available. You can program the pump to give a specific amount of insulin. It can be adjusted to produce a more or less insulin depending on the meals, activities and blood glucose.
Many types of insulin are available including fast acting insulin, long-acting insulin and intermediate options. Depending on your needs, your doctor may prescribe a mixture of insulin types to use throughout the day and night.
Oral medications or other. Sometimes other drugs are prescribed oral or injectable as well. Some diabetes medications stimulate the pancreas to produce and release more insulin. Others inhibit the production and release of glucose by the liver, which means you need less insulin to transport glucose into cells. Others block the action of stomach enzymes that break down carbohydrates, or to make tissues more sensitive to insulin.
Organ transplantation. Some people with type 1 diabetes, pancreas transplantation may be an option. Islet transplantation research as well. With the successful transfer of the pancreas, no longer need insulin therapy. But organ transplants are not always successful - and these procedures carry serious risks. You need a lifetime of drugs to suppress the immune system to prevent organ rejection. These medications can have serious side effects, like a great risk of injury of organ infections and cancer. Because side effects may be more dangerous than diabetes, organ transplants are usually reserved for people with diabetes can not be controlled, or those who have serious complications.
Obesity Surgery. Although not addressed specifically to treat type 2 diabetes - the type 2 diabetes, which also has a body mass index over 35 benefit from this type of surgery. People who have undergone gastric bypass surgery has found significant improvements in their blood sugar levels. But this procedure is long-term risks and benefits for type 2 diabetes, is not yet known.
Treatment for gestational diabetes
Controlling your blood sugar is essential to keep your baby healthy and avoid complications during childbirth. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, the treatment plan may include control of blood sugar and in some cases, the use of insulin.
The doctor will also monitor the level of sugar in the blood during labor. If your blood sugar rises, your baby can release high levels of insulin - which can lead to hypoglycemia shortly after birth.
Treatment of prediabetes
If you have pre-diabetes, healthy lifestyle choices can help bring blood sugar back to normal, or at least prevent the increase towards the levels of type 2 diabetes. To maintain a healthy weight through exercise and healthy diet. Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week and lose 5-10 percent of body weight can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Sometimes drugs - such as oral diabetes drugs metformin (Glucophage) and acarbose (Precose) - are also an option if you are at high risk of diabetes, including pre-diabetes if your serious or cardiovascular disease, Fatty liver or polycystic ovary syndrome.
In other cases, medications to control cholesterol - statins, in particular - and high blood pressure are necessary. Your doctor may prescribe a low dose of aspirin to help prevent heart disease if you are at high risk. Healthy lifestyles remains crucial, however.
Signs of problems in any type of diabetes
Because many factors can affect your blood sugar levels in the blood, sometimes problems arise. These conditions require immediate attention, because if left untreated seizures and unconsciousness (coma) may occur.
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Your blood sugar level can rise for many reasons, such as overeating, nausea, or not getting enough blood sugar-lowering drug. Check your blood sugar often, and watch for symptoms of hyperglycemia - frequent urination, increased thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision, fatigue and nausea. If you have hyperglycemia, you need to customize a meal plan, medication or both.
Increased ketones in the urine (diabetic ketoacidosis). If the cells of food energy, your body can start breaking down fat. This produces toxic acids known as ketones. Watch for loss of appetite, weakness, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and a sweet, fruity smell on your breath. You can check your urine ketones with over-the-counter kits ketone test. If you have too many ketones in the urine, contact your doctor immediately or seek medical treatment. This condition is more common in people with type 1 diabetes.
Syndrome, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic. Signs and symptoms of this condition include a reading of blood sugar threatening more than 600 mg / dL, dry mouth, extreme thirst, fever, drowsiness, confusion, vision loss and hallucinations. Hyperosmolar syndrome is caused by blood sugar becomes exorbitant blood thick and syrupy. It tends to be more common in people with type 2 diabetes is often preceded by the disease. Call your doctor or seek immediate medical attention if you have signs or symptoms of this condition.
Blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If your blood sugar drops below the target range, it is known as hypoglycemia. Blood sugar can drop for many reasons, including skipping meals and getting more physical activity than usual. But hypoglycemia is more likely if you take a drug that promotes glucose lowering insulin secretion, or if you receive insulin therapy. Check your blood sugar regularly and look for signs and symptoms of low blood sugar - sweating, trembling, weakness, hunger, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, palpitations, irritability, difficulty speaking, drowsiness, confusion, fainting and convulsions. Hypoglycemia is treated with rapidly absorbed carbohydrates such as fruit juice or grape sugar.
