Diabetes Treatments: Type 1, Type 2 Diabetes

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

In-depth info on all diabetes treatments. Diabetes medications, diabetic diet, more. Covers type 1, type 2 diabetes treatment.

What You Need to Know About Treatment of Diabetes

Almost 24 million people, or about 8 percent of all Americans, currently have diabetes. If you are one of them or suspect you might have diabetes or pre-diabetes, comprehensive information about the types of diabetes, symptoms and causes of diabetes, diabetes complications, as well as diabetes prevention, can be found here. If you have received a diabetes diagnosis, it's important to have a complete understanding of treatments for diabetes.

Diabetes treatment consists of:

regular monitoring of blood sugar levels
following a well-balanced healthy diet
regular aerobic exercise program recommended by your health care provider

Diabetics, especially, should not smoke. Preventing, monitoring, and treating any coexisting medical conditions, such as hypertension and high cholesterol, is also a major part of diabetic treatment.

Type 1 Diabetes Treatment

Treatment for type 1 diabetes is injected insulin. This involves injecting insulin under the skin - in the fat - where it's absorbed into the blood stream and accessed by the cells of the body that require it. Scientists are looking for new ways to give insulin. But today, shots are the most widely used method. Some new insulin pumps are being developed and tested.

A new type 1 diabetes treatment option is pancreatic islet transplantation. This experimental surgery transplants insulin-producing beta cells from a donor into the pancreas of a person with type 1 diabetes.

A diabetic diet recommended by your doctor and exercise are other key components of a type 1 diabetes treatment program.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Type 2 diabetes is treated first with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications for type 2 diabetes are used. If oral diabetes medications are still insufficient, treatment with insulin is considered.

The Diabetic Diet

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines for a diabetic diet call for a balanced, nutritious diet that is low in fat, cholesterol, and a small amount of simple sugars. The total daily calories are evenly divided into three meals.

The other important treatments for diabetes are weight reduction and exercise. These increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, thus helping to control blood sugar elevations.