Know about the treatment options for diabetes

About a 100 million people are suffering from diabetes or prediabetes in the world. Among them, around 30 million stay in the US. Diabetes can affect anybody at any time. Whether you are in your 20s or 60s, you may get diabetes. Thus, it is very important for everybody, especially who have certain risk factors for diabetes to get their blood sugar level checked at least once every year. Diabetes is a serious ailment that cannot be treated all by yourself. You would need to consult a doctor who would chart out a diabetes treatment plan which would be appropriate for you.

You may also require a team of medical professionals for diabetes treatment. The team would include a nutritionist, foot doctor, diabetes specialist, or endocrinologist and an eye doctor. To keep the blood sugar levels in control is the main aim of any diabetes treatment plan. In order to achieve the goal set by your physician, you need to take the medicines on time, exercise, and follow a healthy diet. The see-saw effect or rapid changes in your blood sugar levels can be counteracted by paying diligent attention to what you eat and when you eat.

Diabetes – Treatment
Insulin
Your pancreas no longer produces insulin if you are suffering from type 1 diabetes. You would now need to get insulin by using a continuous pump or injections. It may seem difficult to administer insulin injection on yourself or your child on your own but it is not so hard as it may sound. There are five types of injectable insulin. These are as follows:

• Rapid-acting
• Short or regular acting
• Long-acting
• Intermediate-acting
• Ultra-long-acting

Oral medicines
There are various types of medications that come in the form of pills which are used as diabetes treatment options. Each of these medications function in different ways and target the disease from different directions.

Meal timing and nutrition
It is very important for people suffering from diabetes to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Thus, they must consult with a dietician or their doctor to chalk out a menu plan. The timing and quantity of the food that a diabetic eats are very important factors for diabetes glucose control. Normally, diabetics are suggested to eat three small meals in a day along with three to four items of snacks throughout the day. To keep up with the targeted blood glucose level, eat a balanced diet containing proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The amount of each component will depend on your preference and body weight. Your diet should not consist of any trans fats and the total saturated fat in your diet must not be more than 7% of your food plan.

Exercise
It is important for diabetics to do exercises or physical activity like strength training and walking. However, before picking up any kind of exercise routine, you must consult with your doctor. Exercising would help with the use of insulin in your body and lowering blood sugar levels. Moreover, doing exercises would lower the risk of a stroke or heart attack in a diabetic and improve circulation as well.

Alternative medicines for diabetes
There are certain alternative medicines which can be used to treat diabetes. However, the same should not be taken along. They must be incorporated into regular medicines for diabetes. Diabetics can take different kinds of vitamins and mineral supplements to deal with the disease. Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamins B6 and B12, and magnesium supplements can be used after consulting with the doctor.

Mind/body medicines
There is mind/body medicine as well to treat diabetes. This includes biofeedback, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, yoga, and meditation. All these help to reduce stress or blood pressure which ultimately leads to a stabilized blood sugar levels.

Herbal remedies
People suffering from diabetes can take the help of herbal remedies as well which should be used after consulting with the doctor along with regular drugs. Evening primrose oil, capsaicin cream, garlic, ginkgo, holy basil, ginseng, fenugreek seeds, and hawthorne are some of the herbal ingredients that have been promoted by many as remedies to treat diabetes. However, more research is needed to determine the efficacy and efficiency of these remedies.

Diabetes is a lifestyle disease and in order to keep it in control, you must make the necessary changes in your life. It may not be a life-threatening disease, but it affects various organs and parts of the body quite badly if not kept under check. Thus, you must take very good care of yourself and follow the right ways and diabetes treatment options recommended by your doctor.