Diabetes Treatment & Management

Aggressive treatment of diabetes can help delay or prevent serious complications. According to the American Medical Network, the life expectancy for an older diabetic patient is about two-thirds that of a healthy older person. Treating and managing diabetes effectively from the time of diagnosis can prevent greater reductions in life expectancy. Treatment options differ for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but proper care is essential to keeping both types of patients healthy.

Type 1

• Type 1 diabetics are not able to produce insulin at all. They must give themselves insulin every day to enable their bodies to use the glucose obtained from food. Insulin is most commonly in injection form. Insulin pumps and pens provide alternatives to injections. Insulin doses vary depending on the patient's age, weight, activity level and diet. Insulin must be administered at appropriate times relative to meals and physical activity, and dosing times and amounts often need to be changed.

  Some type 1 diabetics take other medications to help control and manage their illness. Pramlintide is an injection administered before meals to slow food's movement through the stomach and prevent the spike in blood sugar after meals. Low-dose aspirin may be used to help prevent heart disease in type 1 patients. High blood pressure medications can help protect the kidneys and keep blood pressure within a healthy range, and cholesterol-lowering drugs help diabetics maintain healthy levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol.

  Type 1 diabetics should consume a diet rich in healthy foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and engage in regular aerobic exercise. Monitoring carbohydrate intake is extremely important for type 1 diabetics, so they can give themselves enough insulin to help their bodies process the carbohydrates. According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with type 1 diabetes must also monitor their blood sugar at least four times a day to make sure their blood-sugar levels stay within a healthy range as determined by a doctor.

Type 2

• Type 2 diabetics still produce insulin, but their bodies become resistant to its effects or do not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetics must maintain a healthy diet and count carbohydrates just as type 1 diabetics must. They must also regularly monitor their blood sugar levels to make sure they are within a normal and healthy range. The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week to help keep blood sugar levels stable in combination with a nutritious diet.

  While some patients with type 2 diabetes are able to manage their condition by making healthy diet and lifestyle changes, many require insulin or other medications. Insulin injections, pumps or pens can be used in much the same way as they are used by type 1 diabetics, though dosing may vary. Metformin is a commonly prescribed drug for people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Metformin helps control blood sugar levels by lowering glucose production in the liver. Other type 2 diabetes medications work by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin or making body tissues more sensitive to insulin.

  Many type 2 diabetics benefit greatly from losing weight. For patients whose body mass index (BMI) is greater than 35, bariatric surgery may be a treatment option. Bariatric surgery does have several risks and potential complications, so patients considering this option as a way to control their diabetes should consult carefully with their doctors before deciding whether to undergo weight loss surgery.