Diabetes Treatments
Diabetes treatment is very individualized depending on the type of diabetes the patient has. Your age, other medical conditions and general health will determine what type of treatment you get as well.
By going to your doctor, you and your health care provider will work out a detailed plan that will work best for you. You will set lifestyle goals and medication routines out. When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, there is a lot to learn about your condition.
With type 1 diabetes you will almost always have to use insulin injections every day. Insulin must be given as an injection otherwise if it were taken by mouth it would be destroyed by the stomach before it did the work it needed to do.
Insulin injections are usually administered by yourself and given 2 to 3 times a day, usually around meal times. You will be shown how to do the injection, and if you wish, another person can be shown as well.
It’s critically important you eat after giving yourself an injection as the insulin will lower your blood sugar levels and could cause hypoglycemia.
Type 2 diabetes is a different story. Depending on your blood sugar levels, you will be given the chance to lower your blood sugar levels without the need for medication.
If you are overweight, you will need to start an exercise program straight away and stick with it. You and your blood sugar levels will be checked every 3 months to see how your progress is going. If nothing is working, you will be put onto medication.
A healthy diet is also important. If you cannot control your type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes, oral medication (Metformin) and insulin injections will be prescribed to you.