Treating Diabetes
Important tools include diet, exercise and medications
There is no single way to treat diabetes. If you have diabetes, you should be working with your health care team to define a treatment plan that makes sense for you. Treatment options vary for each person, and are determined by the type of diabetes, its stage of progression, and other aspects of your health.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is important for everyone. Medications may also be prescribed. And for all people with Type 1 diabetes—and many with Type 2 diabetes—injected insulin is a necessity. People with Type 2 diabetes are very likely to experience a progression of treatment stages as their diabetes evolves over their lifetime. People with Type 1 diabetes are also likely to experience different insulin regimens and other changes in care.
Medication and Blood Glucose Monitoring If you are taking insulin or diabetes pills to help control your diabetes, you may already be aware that checking your blood glucose is one way of helping you know if your medicine is effective. Your body reacts to medication based on:
The time of day medicine is taken
The type of medication (insulin, diabetes pills)
How much you take (dose)
Whether you are taking any other drugs (drug interactions)
Whether you are fasting, or have eaten or exercised
Monitoring means information One way to get immediate feedback on either when/how much impact of food is to monitor your blood glucose. How often you test will depend on:
The schedule you've set with your healthcare team
Your level of control
Your medication (or therapy type)
How much your blood glucose fluctuates during the day
Your understanding of the effects of food and exercise on your glucose
Blood glucose monitoring is a good way to see the effects of your medication. Your results show trends that can help your healthcare team adjust your dosage or switch you to a medication that's more effective for you.
Insulin: Insulin can have an immediate and dramatic impact on lowering blood glucose. Blood glucose testing before you inject will give you information about how much insulin and what kind to use.
Diabetes pills: While most pills don't lower blood glucose as rapidly as insulin, people who don't require insulin injections are still subject to significant fluctuations (related primarily to food) that require monitoring.
What are some ways you might use monitoring? Be sure to discuss patterns with your health care team and explore opportunities for improving your blood glucose control. For example, if your blood glucose is highest after taking insulin after breakfast, consider testing before and after injecting until you and your doctor come up with doses/types that hit your target blood glucose. Once you've mastered your morning dose, focus on another time of day (or event) you may find challenging.
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Diabetes Basics
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This information is for general background purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific conditions. Seek prompt medical attention for health care questions you have.
Consult your physician before making changes to your medication, diet, fitness program or blood glucose testing schedules.
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