Diabetes treatment

Diabetes is a common condition that affects people of all ages. There are various types of diabetes, with Type 2 being the most common. A combination of treatment strategies can help manage the condition and prevent complications. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to use insulin to treat your diabetes. You take the insulin by injection or by using a pump. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you may be able to treat your diabetes by eating well and moving more.

Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthy, and engaging in regular, moderate physical activity may reduce the progression of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes and control Type 1 diabetes. They can also minimise other risk factors such as high blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and even heart attacks and strokes.

Type 1 diabetes

The primary treatment for Type 1 diabetes is lifelong insulin replacement therapy. This involves injecting insulin, and the dosage must be closely adjusted to avoid high or low blood sugars in the presence of varying levels of physical activity, food intake, and the physical state of the person taking the insulin.

Since the discovery of insulin, there have been significant improvements in the production and manufacture of insulin to enhance the consistency and quality of insulin products. We have now moved away from animal-derived insulin, and most insulin currently sold is genetically engineered from bacteria.

A small amount of animal-derived insulin is still used by patients who have been stabilised on it, and in whom there is no clinical indication to switch to human insulin.

Prediabetes

This type is the stage before Type 2 diabetes. Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

The mainstay of treatment for Type 2 diabetes should always be diet. A reduction in sugary foods and an increase in healthier foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, can benefit Type 2 diabetes sufferers.

Where glycaemic control cannot be maintained tablets may be added.

Gestational diabetes

This type develops in some people during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. However, if you have gestational diabetes, you’re at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.