Treatment and Prevention
Currently, type 1 diabetes is not preventable. However, studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by adopting lifestyle changes that include eating a healthy diet and exercising.
Diabetes is a chronic condition and it can last an entire life. The goal of treating diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels as close to a normal range as possible. This prevents the symptoms of diabetes and the long-term complications of the condition. If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor - working with the members of your diabetes care team - will help you find your target blood glucose levels.
More than most conditions, treating diabetes requires a significant amount of real effort on the patient's part. Coping with diabetes is a lifelong challenge, so people with diabetes should not be afraid to speak with a doctor or pharmacist if they feel overwhelmed.
People with type 1 diabetes need insulin* continuously to survive. The only way to cure this disease is by pancreas transplant, but the operation is still experimental.
There are 3 important things a person can do to treat type 2 diabetes:
- make lifestyle changes
- use medication
- monitor blood glucose levels
Like many conditions, treatment of type 2 diabetes begins with lifestyle changes, particularly in regards to diet and exercise. If you have type 2 diabetes, speak to your doctor and diabetes educator about an appropriate diet. Your may be referred to a dietitian. It is also a good idea to speak with your doctor before beginning an exercise program to determine what kind and how much exercise is appropriate.
If lifestyle changes don't put blood glucose levels in the target range, medications may be required. Medications for type 2 diabetes include antidiabetic pills, insulin injections, or a combination of both.
Medications are very effective at treating diabetes and reducing the symptoms and long-term effects of the condition. However, hypoglycemia (blood glucose that is too low) can occur when taking certain medications for diabetes. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- anxiety
- confusion
- dizziness
- fatigue
- hunger
- irritability
- pale skin
- sweating
- tremors or shakiness
- visual changes
If your blood glucose level is extremely low, it is possible to have a seizure or lose consciousness. A health care professional can teach you how to recognize the warning signs of hypoglycemia. People with diabetes should carry candy, sugar, or glucose tablets to treat hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a side effect of many medications for type 1 and 2 diabetes, but it is never a reason to avoid treatment. The best way to avoid hypoglycemia is to monitor blood glucose.
Frequent measurement of blood glucose levels is the best way to know whether blood glucose levels are in the target range. This is easily done at home with a blood glucose monitor.
It's essential for anyone with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels. It is important to record blood glucose readings taken at different times of the day - after fasting as well as 2 hours after a meal. This allows your doctor to see a snapshot of how blood glucose levels vary during the day and recommend treatment accordingly. Many blood glucose meters now have "memories" which store a number of blood glucose tests along with the time and date they were taken. Some even allow for graphs and charts of the results to be created when the monitor is connected to a computer.
A blood test done in the laboratory called the glycosylated hemoglobin or A1c test allows your doctor to see the average of blood glucose values over the last 3 months. This is a good indication of how well your blood glucose has been in control overall and allows your doctor to manage your treatment more effectively.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.