Diabetes Mellitus Treatment

Diabetes mellitus is a medical term for diabetes that is typically marked by too much sugar in the blood. Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes and it continues for the rest of the life. Though a lifelong problem, it can never be a burden if treatment guidelines are followed to the word as instructed by the doctor. The guidelines revolve around diet and exercise, the two factors that contribute in managing diabetes successfully. These are discussed below:

As we all know, the job of maintaining blood sugar in the normal range is assigned to insulin. This is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that works in different ways to regulate sugar in the blood. When the pancreas show its inability to release sufficient insulin, sugar levels become abnormally high and the condition is referred as diabetes mellitus type 1. In diabetes mellitus type 2, there is adequate insulin but the body does not respond to the actions of insulin.

Treatment

The primary aim of treatment is to prevent diabetes from worsening. Although, no treatment will help to restore healthy blood sugar levels, one has to prevent it from escalating into the 'danger' zone. Uncontrolled diabetes produce damaging effects to the nerve, which can restrict muscle movement and cause unbearable nerve pain. So, the main purpose of following prescribed treatment is to ensure that diabetes does not go 'wild' and remains under control. It is discussed below:

Healthy Diet
First things first. When the intention is to control blood sugar, it is obvious that one cannot ignore the diet. It is a known fact that what we eat influences our blood sugar levels. Therefore, keeping an eye on the diet is crucial to manage diabetes in the right way. Shunning away from sugary foods like cakes, pastries and bakery products is a pre-requisite to manage diabetes. Eating fruits and vegetables for diabetics everyday can go a long way in keeping health in optimal condition. Foods containing starch (complex carbohydrate) that increases sugar in the blood. Complex carbohydrates transform into sugar at a faster rate than simple carbohydrates. Hence, it is often advised to avoid or restrict consumption of complex carbohydrates. A low carb diet can benefit to maintain sugar levels in blood. Studies also showed that a low carb diet does contribute in keeping diabetes under control. Off the total food consumption everyday, around 50% should come from carbohydrates. However, it is always recommended to consult a doctor when it comes to deciding a diet plan for diabetes.

The focus should be more on eating green vegetables and less on fatty foods like poultry products and red meat. Too much fat in the diet can make the body cells more resistant towards insulin activity, which can aggravate diabetes.

Exercise
It is said that diabetes has a negative impact on quality of life. Well, this might be true for those patients who prefer a sedentary lifestyle. With no or little exercise, sooner or later diabetes is bound to raise its 'ugly head'. It is observed that in order to carry out any physical activity, the body requires energy which it derives from sugar. Thus, one can get an idea about how sugar is helpful in controlling blood sugar, thereby providing a natural way to manage diabetes. Brisk walking or doing fun activities like swimming and cycling everyday is useful in the lifetime management of this chronic ailment.

Insulin Therapy
People affected with type 1 diabetes (insulin deficiency) are given insulin either through injections or in oral form. Basically, this therapy helps to improve production of insulin, necessary to regulate blood sugar. In some cases, type 2 diabetic patients are also advised to take insulin supplements. Injecting insulin is always considered to be a better option because stomach enzymes may restrict absorption of insulin, making it less effective in controlling diabetes. Of course, it depends on how severe is the medical condition. For instance, oral insulin tablets might be effective to control mild form of diabetes.

Oral Diabetes Medicines
Patients who are not responding well to healthy lifestyle changes or insulin therapy, may be additionally put on oral diabetes medicines to stabilize blood sugar levels. This usually happens in type 2 diabetic patients and so additional medicines are prescribed. These medicines are formulated to raise the amount of insulin released, lower the amount of sugar absorbed and reduce insulin resistance.

Blood Tests
Patients are often advised to undergo A1C test from time to time that gives a clear idea about the average blood sugar levels for a specific duration. Usually, the average is calculated after measuring blood sugar levels of the last 2 months. This test clearly indicates whether the treatment plan currently adopted is effective to control diabetes or not. If the A1C test values are found to be more than normal, then it is pinpointing diabetes being poorly managed, thereby elevating the chances of health complications like diabetic neuropathy.

On the whole, diabetics who are serious about taking charge of their health need to understand that apart from medicines, one should not commit the mistake of neglecting the diet. Giving priority to exercise is equally important to ensure that diabetes does not become a headache.