There are many ways to treat diabetes that can help you manage your condition. Everyone is different, so treatment will vary depending on your individual needs. Not all diabetes treatments are suitable for everyone, so don’t be discouraged if you need to switch or stop taking certain medications. Your primary care doctor or healthcare team can help you find the treatment that’s best for you. Diabetes treatment varies depending on the type of diabetes you have.
• Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
• Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
• Treatment of gestational diabetes
• Other types of diabetes
You can find more information about the various treatments for diabetes below:
Everyone with type 1 diabetes must take insulin as medication. The same applies to some people with type 2 diabetes, some with gestational diabetes, and some with other types of diabetes. Insulin helps you control your blood sugar levels and prevents short-term or long-term serious health problems known as diabetes complications.
What is insulin?
We cannot live without insulin. It is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer produces insulin, so patients administer it externally using insulin pens or an insulin pump. Insulin is also used in type 2 diabetes when, after several years, oral medications are no longer effective enough. A doctor may also temporarily prescribe it for gestational diabetes to quickly stabilize blood sugar levels.
Metformin is the most commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes. You may also be taking it if you have gestational diabetes. Metformin belongs to a class of medications called biguanides. It can be used on its own to lower blood sugar levels or taken with other medications, including insulin. Metformin works by reducing the amount of glucose the liver releases into the body and by helping the insulin your body still produces to work more effectively.
There are several types of diabetes medications available, such as weight-loss drugs and SGLT2 inhibitors, which work in different ways.
A healthy, balanced diet is an important part of managing diabetes. A balanced diet will help you control your blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight.
Physical activity is beneficial for diabetes. Whether you feel up to running or swimming, or can just manage a few arm stretches or walking in place while the water boils, it all makes a difference.
There are many different types of diabetes technology, such as insulin pumps and blood glucose meters, which can be an important part of managing diabetes for some people.
Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is considered a treatment for type 2 diabetes, and there is strong evidence that it is an effective way to achieve long-term remission of type 2 diabetes.
There are many ways to achieve remission from type 2 diabetes, which means that long-term blood sugar levels drop below the threshold for diabetes and remain there for at least three months, without the need for glucose-lowering medications.
