Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes treatment has come a long way since the discovery and purification of the hormone called insulin in 1921. It seems incredible to think that until that discovery the overwhelming majority of type 1 diabetics died fairly rapidly. Nowadays a simple injection is enough to bring down blood sugar levels and save lives.

Insulin, the hormone responsible for mediating cell uptake of sugar, is injected subcutaneously ( under the skin) using a fine needle. Type 1 diabetics, and some type 2 diabetics whose diabetes is severe enough to demand treatment in this way, learn to monitor blood sugar levels with a simple machine called a glucometer. After becoming proficient in keeping the level of blood sugar stable, most diabetics treat themselves with very little need for guidance on a daily basis.

Type 1 diabetes treatment

Type 1 diabetes treatment becomes more sophisticated nearly every day, with human bio-engineered insulin available in short acting, medium acting and long acting varieties, as well as tailor made mixtures providing good blood sugar control for every type of life-style. The insulin pump, once used as diabetes treatment for pregnant women who needed constant blood sugar levels in order to avoid complications, has become popular with many type 1 diabetics, and many sophisticated models exist. Research into curing diabetes by transplanting insulin producing cells to the pancreas is beginning to look promising, and the outlook for type 1 diabetes treatment in general is bright.

Type 2 diabetes treatment

Type 2 diabetes treatment too has been transformed by research, and most type 2 diabetics today can control their disease well enough to delay complications for years. The emphasis in type 2 diabetes treatment is on oral drugs, and there are many different approaches to blood sugar control. However, because type 2 diabetes is usually caused by insensitivity to insulin and excess weight, type 2 diabetes treatment involves much more than just drugs.

The type 2 diabetic, or ideally pre-diabetic, if diagnosed before full diabetes starts, will recieve most benefit from a program which includes medically supervised exercise, weight loss, diet to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and stopping smoking, as well as blood sugar monitoring and control.

Diabetes treatment goals

The American Diabetes Association has set basic diabetes treatment goals which are;

• Maintain a near normal level of blood glucose. ( Normal levels are between  4-8 mmol/l, or 60-100mg/dl ) . This can be acheived by balancing diet, exercise and medication.
• Achieve and maintain optimal blood lipid levels. ( Normal levels are; Total lipids- < 200mg/dl, LDL cholesterol <100mg/dl, HDL cholesterol > 60mg/dl, triglycerides <150mg/dl.)  
• Achieve and maintain optimal weight.
• Prevent or treat complications of diabetes.

Because diabetes is a chronic disease, one of the biggest obstacles to successful diabetes treatment is psychological. Although treatment options and diabetes clinics are widely available and usually inexpensive or covered by medicare, the fact is that the majority of diabetics do not meet long term treatment goals. The difficulty of maintaining optimum weight in a society which encourages excess is a huge challenge to most diabetics. In recognition of this fact the American Diabetes Association organises social events and community programs which attempt to improve treatment compliance and give psychological support for life style changes.