Although diabetes can not be cured, early detection allows the blood sugar levels of diabetics can be controlled, in order to keep blood sugar levels within normal level and the symptoms can be controlled to prevent the complications that might occur.
The doctor will explain detail, helping you to understand the process of treatment, and monitor other diseases that can happen to you. Goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain blood sugar levels and minimize the risk of complications.
Patients with type 2 diabetes are encouraged to maintain the health carefully. But you should not feel discouraged because the doctor can assist you in the process of treatment. Do not hesitate to ask for help on the family or friends.
Start a Healthy Lifestyle
Early treatment is generally applied to patients with type 2 diabetes is change the lifestyles. For example, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight loss for those who are overweight or obese (body mass index 30 or more).
The initial step will be very effective for people with type 2 diabetes at an early stage and can help the healing process if discipline.
Medicines for Lowering Blood Sugar Levels
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease that generally can get worse. Maintain a regular diet and exercise alone may not be enough to control the blood sugar levels of patients completely.
People with this type of diabetes will eventually need medication to lower high blood sugar levels. The process generally begins with drug treatment in tablet form and sometimes with a combination of more than one type of tablet. Then continue with insulin or other medications given by injection.
Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
HbA1c tests
People with diabetes are encouraged to undergo a blood sugar concentration in every 2-3 months. This examination will show the level of blood sugar levels in recent months, and the effectiveness of your treatment.
How to monitor own blood sugar levels?
A healthy diet, exercising, and taking medications or insulin therapy will help you to maintain the balance of blood sugar levels. But other diseases and stress can also be influential. Another factor that may affect your blood sugar levels are:
Consumption of alcoholic beverages, Comsumption other drugs or, Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle.
Laboratory tests every 2-6 months is very important for people with diabetes type 2. In addition, patients are also encouraged to monitor blood sugar levels by testing themselves at home.
Examination at home use simple blood sugar levels tester. This tool can be used to detect fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar levels usually not always same throughout the day and can be affected by your treatment process. Then you are recommended to check it several times a day. Regular monitoring will help you to maintain balance.
Blood sugar levels in each person is different, but the normal reference is:
72-108 mg / dL before meals.
180 mg / dL two hours after eating.
Appropriate Medications for Type 2 Diabetes Coping
Balance blood sugar levels in diabetes sometimes can not be maintained properly only through a healthy diet and regular exercise. You also may need medication to handle it.
There are several types of medications (usually in the form of a tablet) that can be used for type 2 diabetes, you may be given a combination of two or more types of medicine to control your blood sugar levels.
Metformin to reduce blood sugar levels
Metformin works by reducing sugar content which is distributed to the liver blood flow and makes the body more responsive to insulin. This is the first drug that is often recommended for people with type 2 diabetes.
Contrast to other drugs, metformin does not cause body weight. Because the drug is usually given to patients who are overweight.
But metformin can sometimes cause mild side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. Doctors also would not recommend this drug for diabetics who have kidney problems.
Sulfonylureas to increase insulin production in the pancreas
Sulfonylureas works to increase insulin production in the pancreas. People with diabetes who can not comsume metformin or not overweight may be given this medicine. If metformin is less effective to control your blood sugar levels, your doctor may be combined with sulfonylureas. Examples of these drugs are Glimepiride, Glibenclamide, Glipizide, Gliclazide, Gliquidone.
Sulfonylureas will increase insulin levels in the body so that it can increase the risk of hypoglycemia if any use. In addition, these drugs have effects as follows:
Weight gain
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Glitazone (thiazolidinedione) as a trigger for insulin
Glitazone (eg, pioglitazone) is usually combined with metformin, sulfonylurea, or both. These drugs work makes cells more sensitive to insulin so that more sugar in the blood is transferred from.
These drugs can cause weight gain and swelling of the ankles. You are not recommended to take pioglitazone if heart failure or at risk of fracture.
In some countries not allowed risoglitazone which is one of the glitazone because it is proven to increase the risk of heart disease such as heart attack and heart failure. If consumed, consult potential side effects with your doctor.
Gliptin (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) for the prevention of breakdown of GLP-1
Gliptin or DPP-4 inhibitors prevent the breakdown of the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 is a hormone that plays a role in the production of insulin when blood sugar levels is high. Thus, gliptin help raise the level of insulin when glucose levels rise.
Gliptin (eg, Linagliptin, saxagliptin, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin) can inhibit the increase in high blood sugar levels without causing hypoglycemia. These drugs do not cause weight gain and is usually given if the patient can not take a sulfonylurea or glitazone, or combined with both.
GLP-1 agonist to trigger insulin without the risk of hypoglycaemia
Exenatide is a GLP-1 agonist with a performance similar to the natural hormone GLP-1. This medication is given by injection twice a day. Exenatide can trigger an increase in the production of insulin when blood sugar levels without the risk of hypoglycemia.
Most diabetics who take exenatide may also experience weight loss. These drugs are usually given to people with diabetes who are taking metformin and sulfonylurea and obese.
Type GLP-1 agonist liraglutide the other is injected once a day. Research shows that these drugs can also lose weight. Liraglutide also generally given to diabetics who take metformin and sulfonylurea and obese.
Acarbose to slow down the digestion of carbohydrates
Acarbose slows the digestion of carbohydrates into sugar in the body. These drugs prevent the increase in blood sugar levels of diabetics too quickly after eating.
This medication can cause side effects diarrhea and flatulence so rarely used to treat type 2 diabetes, but the doctor still would give if the patient is not suitable with other drugs.
Nateglinide and repaglinide to release insulin into the bloodstream
Both of these drugs will stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin into the bloodstream. Nateglinide and repaglinide function can not last long, but effective when taken before meals. So although rarely used, both recommended if the patient has a feeding schedule during the hours are not uncommon.
All drugs have side effects remain, including nateglinide and repaglinide. Side effects of these two drugs is hypoglycemia and weight gain.
Insulin therapy as a companion other drugs
Medicines in tablet form can be less effective for treating diabetes that you require insulin therapy. This therapy can be given in place of or in conjunction with the above drugs, but depending on the dose and how to use it. There are several types of insulin that can be used. Among them:
Rapid acting insulin that does not last long, but reacted quickly.
Short-acting insulin that can last up to eight hours.
Long-acting insulin that can survive one day.
Treatment for diabetes is also possible to use a combination of the types of insulin at the top.
Doing injections of insulin for yourself
Giving insulin because insulin injections generally pass will be digested in the stomach and can not enter into the blood when taken in tablet form.
The doctor will explain when you need to use insulin. In the early stages of use, the doctor usually will help you to inject insulin. Furthermore, you are taught how to inject and store insulin and dispose of needles safely.
There are two methods commonly used to inject insulin, through the needle and syringe or pen. Diabetics generally need 2-4 injections per day. The doctor or nurse will also teach how to use it to their friends or family.
How to cope with hypoglycemia (too low blood sugar levels )
Patients with type 2 diabetes commonly used types of insulin or certain tablets to control blood sugar levels. The treatment method has the risk of causing hypoglycemia.
When your blood sugar levels are too low, you will experience hypoglycemia. The symptoms include feeling weak, trembling, and hungry. This condition can be overcome by eating foods or sugary drinks.
Initial treatment for diabetics who experience hypoglycemia is to eat a source of carbohydrates (sugary drinks or glucose tablets) that can be absorbed quickly. After that the patient should consume carbohydrate source that can last longer as a wafer, a sandwich, or a fruit.
The steps above are generally able to increase blood sugar levels back to normal. But this process can take several hours.
Severe hypoglycemia will result in diabetics feel dazed, sleepy, and even loss of consciousness. If you experience this condition, people with diabetes should be given an injection of glucagon (a hormone which can increase blood sugar levels quickly) directly on the muscle or vein.
Alternatives treatment of type 2 diabetics
Patients with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of complications (heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease). Because the doctor will usually suggest the following drugs to reduce the risk of complications, like:
Statins (eg, simvastatin) to reduce high cholesterol levels.
High blood pressure-lowering drugs.
ACE inhibitor drugs, such as lisinopril, enalapril, or ramipril, if there is an indication of diabetic kidney disease. The evolution of a disease characterized by the presence of the protein albumin in the urine can be cured if treated immediately.
