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Diabetes - Treatment Methods for Diabetes

By: Julia Hanf The treatment methods used for diabetes depend on the type and degree of diabetes, as well as the patient's age and other factors.

Gestational diabetes, for example, that sometimes afflicts pregnant women at around 6-7 months into the pregnancy, may disappear after birth. Treatment may be as mild as doing nothing to additional diet management. Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is currently incurable and typically requires lifelong insulin shots.

There are many other forms of treatment, most of them based on self-care.

More extensive treatments may involve drugs other than insulin.

Sulfonylureas, for example (such as Glucotrol and Micronase) help the body make insulin. That's helpful for Type 1 diabetes patients who produce too little. Biguanides, on the other hand (such as Glucophage), aid in using insulin more efficiently, the common characteristic of Type 2 diabetes. Thiazolidinediones (like Avandia) help make cells more sensitive to insulin, again useful in treating Type 2.

Other drugs work on glucose levels. Meglitinides (such as Prandin) help control the blood sugar level after eating. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (like Precose) slow down the absorption of sugars in the digestive tract.

Regardless of the treatment used, the blood glucose level must be continually monitored, using single or multiple methods. The diabetic and his or her doctor can then plan the appropriate treatment regimen.

Sometimes diet and exercise alone are sufficient to control diabetes; this more frequent in the case of Type 2 diabetics. Pre-diabetic cases are most amenable to this kind of treatment. Pre-diabetes means the patient's glucose levels are elevated, but on not at the diabetic level.

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 becomes necessary, there are other forms apart from traditional injections. Oral insulin is now in widespread use. Insulin inhalers have recently been approved by the FDA for treatment of diabetes. An insulin pump, which injects the appropriate amount automatically as needed, may be appropriate for some patients.

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.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

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