Diabetes treatments are widely available and can be effective in alleviating the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and treating type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes symptoms can be debilitating and difficult to live with. Fortunately, with proper treatment, you can live comfortably in spite of these symptoms.
By learning what diabetes is, getting a diagnosis, and learning how to treat it, you can live a long, comfortable life.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that causes a number of serious symptoms.
If you have diabetes, it means your body either isn’t making enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin as efficiently as it needs to.
When you eat food, it is broken down into glucose, which is released into your bloodstream and causes your blood sugar to increase. Insulin is then produced by your pancreas, which lets blood sugar enter your cells to be used as energy.
When you have diabetes, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream, which can cause serious side effects, including heart disease, kidney disease, and loss of vision.
There are three types of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
First, Type 1 diabetes is, unfortunately, not preventable. Type 1 diabetes results in your body not being able to make insulin.
According to the CDC, about 5% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. It is typically diagnosed in young children, teenagers, and young adults¹.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you have to take insulin every day in order to survive.
Type 2 Diabetes
Next, Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1. Type 2 diabetes is the result of your body not being able to use insulin effectively.
Type 2 diabetes develops over several years and is commonly diagnosed in adults¹.
Fortunately, this type of diabetes is preventable through healthy lifestyle practices, like eating healthy and exercising.
Gestational Diabetes
Lastly, gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes previously¹.
This type of diabetes tends to go away after giving birth. However, it increases the chances of the baby having diabetes and the mother developing diabetes later in life.
Diabetes Treatments
There are a number of diabetes treatments available to help manage the symptoms of all types of diabetes.
You cannot treat diabetes on your own. It is incredibly important to consult with your physician to receive a diagnosis and create a plan to treat your diabetes.
According to WebMD², diabetes treatments for type 1 diabetes include:
- Rapid-acting insulin
- Regular or short-acting insulin
- Intermediate-acting insulin
- Long-acting insulin
- Ultra-long-acting insulin
For type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise can be enough to keep the disease under control. However, if not, other diabetes treatments are available², including:
- Drugs that increase insulin production
- Medication that decrease sugar absorption
- Drugs that improve how the body uses insulin
- And others
To find which treatment is right for you, it’s important to meet with your doctor. Your physician will evaluate your symptoms to determine the best course of action.
Find Diabetes Treatments in Your Area
By searching online for treatment options, you can understand which diabetes treatments may be right for you.
It’s important to understand how these treatments work and how they can affect you.
Above all else, the most important thing you can do is talk to your doctor to discourse possible treatment plans so that you can manage your symptoms and live comfortably.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html
[2] https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/understanding-diabetes-detection-treatment#3