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 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Your diabetes treatment can lead to a dizzying array of medications and lifestyle changes that can seem overwhelming at first. |
Type 1 diabetes requires injections of insulin to maintain blood sugar levels evenly throughout the day. If the blood glucose concentration rises, imbalance may be signaled by weakness, fatigue, and thirst. These symptoms mean that more insulin is needed. However, if blood glucose concentration falls too low, an insulin reaction sets in, causing dizziness, hunger, fatigue, head-ache, sweating, trembling, and (in severe cases) unconsciousness. A quick remedy for this problem is to give the person simple sugar, such as is found in orange juice and some kinds of candy. This should be done only if the person is conscious and alert, however; nothing should be given by mouth to an unconscious or semiconscious person, because of the risk of choking.
Ideally, a doctor can prevent these fluctuations of sugar levels by coordinating the type and timing of insulin injections with meal content and energy output. A special diet is important to balance daily insulin injections. Young children with diabetes, in particular, need sufficient calories to grow and develop normally. Insulin requirements for persons with type 1 diabetes differ greatly. Some patients may maintain balanced blood sugar levels with one insulin injection taken before breakfast. Other patients may require several insulin injections per day. Insulin requirements may change as the patient grows older, undergoes surgery, becomes pregnant, or develops an unrelated illness.
Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
Many people with type 2 diabetes can regulate their condition with proper diet; some require insulin injections. Sometimes, oral antidiabetic drugs, which work by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin or by stimulating the insulin receptors, may be prescribed.
Special attention to diet is critical for control of type 2 diabetes. Overweight individuals need to lose weight. Thereafter, emphasis is on eating balanced meals that will sustain the recommended weight. Fats need to be limited to reduce susceptibility to atherosclerosis, and the diet should be low in simple sugars. The diet should include plenty of fibrous roughage, such as is contained in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; fiber in the diet has been shown to reduce or slow sugar absorption in the digestive tract. A doctor can provide a medically approved diet plan, with enough flexibility to allow the diabetic patient to share in regular family meals while meeting his or her special dietary needs.
With either type of diabetes, follow-up is important to plan diet, determine changes in insulin or drug dosage, and monitor blood for sugar levels. Testing urine for sugar has been shown to be inaccurate, and the availability of home blood glucose monitoring has all but replaced urine sugar testing for most diabetic patients. For individuals with type 1 diabetes, however, urine ketone testing is still important.
It has been shown in recent years that meticulous control of blood glucose levels can delay or prevent many of the complications of diabetes mellitus, such as blindness and kidney failure. Therefore, strict adherence to the regimen prescribed by the physician is of major importance.
Of course, we’ve only scratched the surface of the many steps a diabetes patient will have to take to regulate their blood sugar and avoid the many serious complications of diabetes. To learn more about the treatment for diabetes, choose the type of diabetes treatment that is specific to you:
Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
If you have type 1 diabetes, your body is no longer producing the insulin it needs to function properly. This means it's up to you, the patient, to supply that insulin. Of course, while you're deciding what type of insulin to use, you still have to pay attention to your diet and your blood sugar levels. On this page, you will find the information you need to manage your type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
Everyone's doctor tells them to eat right and exercise. In fact, we hear it so much we don't even pay attention. Well, if you have type 2 diabetes, you better listen up becuase diet and exercise are the cornerstones to controlling your blood sugar. On this page, you will find diet and exercise tips as well as a thorough examination of type 2 diabetes medications.
Gestational Diabetes Treatment
The treatment for gestational diabetes is very similar to other forms of diabetes, but with the added complication that the patient is seven months pregnant. Naturally, some extra safety precautions need to be taken. Learn more on this page.
To learn more about diabetes in general -- including symptoms, causes, and treatment -- visit the main Diabetes page.
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This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
