Treatment of Diabetes

The ultimate goal of treatment of diabetes is to control blood glucose levels as close to normal levels as possible over time. In so doing, both acute symptoms of diabetes are minimized and chronic long-term complications associated with diabetes can be delayed, minimized or prevented.

Most of the symptoms, both acute and chronic, related to diabetes are directly due to the damaging effects of hyperglycemia, high levels of blood glucose. Therefore, the more these levels can be controlled, not just at one time, but around the clock, every day of the year, the less of an impact the disease will have on each patient.

Although this tight control of blood sugar is the ideal goal, it is not as easy to accomplish as it sounds. A combined approach of diet, exercise, weight loss, medications and more can all play important parts in attempting to control this common disease.

Treatment of Diabetes

Diabetic Diet Some foods tend to accentuate hyperglycemia more than others. Diets that avoid these problem foods and that aid in weight loss may play an important part in the management of diabetes.

Exercise and Diabetes Exercise can help patients manage blood sugar by more than one mechanism, often playing a major role in the long-term control of this disease.

Diabetes Medications For those patients who cannot control diabetes simply with diet, weight loss and exercise, various medications may be prescribed to aid in the treatment of diabetes.

What is Insulin? Insulin is often mentioned in the context of diabetes. Learn more about what this hormone is and does and how it can be a part of diabetes treatment.

Insulin and Diabetes Whereas insulin injections play a major role of diabetes treatment in Type I diabetes, it is only occasionally prescribed for Type II diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Treatment The treatment of juvenile onset, or Type 1 diabetes, is quite different than for Type 2, although the end goal of glucose control is the same.

Is There a Diabetes Cure? While there is no "cure" for every patient, there are some instances where diabetes can be controlled without medication.