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-Diabetes Facts -Diabetes Mellitus Symptoms Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Gestational Diabetes Juvenile Diabetes Diabetes Insipidus Diabetes Symptoms Glucose
Diabetes Diet Diabetes Supply Diabetes Treatment Insulin Diabetes Care Diabetes is the No. 6 leading causes of deaths in the United States, according to 2001 data from the United States National Center for Health Statistics. |
Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes The first goals are to eliminate the symptoms and stabilize your blood
glucose levels. The ongoing goals are to prevent long-term complications and
prolong your life. The primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is exercise and
diet. LEARN THESE SKILLS You should learn basic diabetes management skills. They will help prevent
complications and the need for medical care. These skills include: It may take several months to learn the basic skills. Once your condition has
stabilized, continue to educate yourself about the disease process, how to
control and live with diabetes, and long-term complications of the disease. Over
time, stay current on new research and treatment. Blood sugar testing, or self-monitoring of blood glucose, is done by checking
the glucose content of a small drop of blood. Regular testing tells you how well
diet, exercise, and medication are working together to control diabetes. The results of the test can be used to adjust meals, activity, or medications
to keep blood sugar levels in an appropriate range. Testing provides valuable
information for the health care provider and identifies high and low blood sugar
levels before serious problems develop. The strip is then placed in the meter. Results are available within 30 to 45
seconds. A health care provider or diabetes educator will help set up an
appropriate testing schedule for you. You will also be taught how to respond to
different ranges of glucose values obtained when you self-test. Tests are usually done before meals and at bedtime. More frequent testing may
be indicated during illness or stress. Accurate record keeping of test results
will make them more useful for planning how to best control your diabetes. Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods, eating the right amount of
food, and eating meals at the right time. You should work closely with your
health care provider to learn how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you need
in your diet. Your specific meal plans need to be tailored to your food habits
and preferences. A registered dietitian can be helpful in determining your
specific, individual dietary needs. In type 2 diabetes, weight management and a well-balanced diet are important.
Some people with type 2 diabetes can stop medications after intentional weight
loss, although the diabetes is still present. Consultation with a registered
dietitian is an invaluable planning tool. Regular exercise is important for everyone, but especially if you have
diabetes. Regular exercise helps control the amount of glucose in the blood. It
also helps burn excess calories and fat to achieve optimal weight. Exercise improves overall health by improving blood flow and blood pressure.
It naturally decreases insulin resistance even without weight loss. Exercise
also increases the body's energy level, lowers tension, and improves your
ability to handle stress. Everyone should obtain medical approval before
starting an exercise program, but this is especially important if you have
diabetes. MEDICATION When you cannot achieve normal or near-normal blood glucose levels with diet
and exercise, medication is added to the treatment plan. Your doctor will start
you on oral (by mouth) medicines, such as: If you continue to have poor blood glucose control despite lifestyle changes
and using oral medicines, your doctor will prescribe insulin. Insulin may also
be prescribed if you have had a bad reaction to oral medicines. Insulin must be
injected under the skin using a syringe and cannot be taken by mouth. Insulin preparations differ in how fast they start to work and how long they
work. The health-care professional will determine the appropriate type of
insulin to use and will counsel you on what time of day to use it. More than one type may be mixed together in an injection to achieve the best
control of blood glucose. The injections are needed, in general, from one to
four times a day. You will be taught how to give yourself injections by your
doctor or a diabetes educator referred by your doctor. FOOT CARE People with diabetes are prone to foot problems because of complications
caused by damage to blood vessels and nerves and decreased ability to fight
infection. Blood flow to the feet may become compromised and damage to the
nerves may cause an injury to the foot to go unnoticed until infection develops.
Death of skin and other tissue can occur. If left untreated, amputation of the
affected foot may ultimately be necessary. CONTINUING CARE A person with type 2 diabetes should have a visit with a diabetes care
provider every three months. A thorough three-month evaluation includes: The following evaluations should be done at least annually: (from the National Institute of Health) See also Type 1 Diabetes
This diabetes
health education project is supported
by Chong's Health Care at http://www.cljhealth.com, one of the leading companies in the discovery of
alternative
medicines for diabetes.
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