Diabetes Types and Treatment
Diabetes is defined as a chronic condition that impairs the body's ability to process blood sugar, or blood glucose.
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| Diabetes types treatment. Diabetes is a serious and chronic disease. Edited by Nazihpharmacy |
In this article:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Less common types of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Preventing diabetes
- How does insulin resistance develop?
- Using insulin
- Tips for measuring blood sugar
- Tips for diabetics
- Diabetes treatment
- Complications of diabetes
- FAQ
- Summary
Diabetes leads to the accumulation of glucose in the blood, which increases the risk of stroke and the risk of heart disease and its development in affected people.
Therefore, diabetes requires continuous and precise management. This management varies according to the type of diabetes.
The most common types of diabetes:
- Type 1
- Type 2
- Gestational diabetes
Not all forms of diabetes stem from a high-sugar diet or lack of physical activity, and some are present from birth.
Treatment varies from one case to another depending on the type of diabetes that affects the person.
Hormone therapy for certain conditions such as menopause in women may increase the potential effects of diabetes.
To go into more detail, we will cover almost completely the types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Known as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin.
Insulin is the hormone responsible for breaking down blood sugar for use throughout the body.
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed (1) in childhood or at birth after the first tests.
People with type 1 diabetes need to be given insulin regularly, either by injection or insulin pump, depending on the person's choice.
There is no cure for type 1 diabetes. Immediately after diagnosis, it begins to monitor blood sugar levels periodically(2), administer insulin, and follow a specific lifestyle for life with a specific strategy to reach and maintain a stable level of the index.
Successful management of blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes helps avoid serious heart or brain complications.
What are the possible warning signs of type 1 diabetes in children?
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are more or less the same for most people, but teens and adults are more likely to notice them.
Therefore, it is important for caregivers to be aware of potential warning signs.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children can include:
- Blurred vision
- Increased thirst and urination
- Tired
- Increased feeling of hunger
- Unexplained weight loss
Increased urination and thirst are among the first signs of diabetes in children.
They may also seem more nervous and anxious than usual. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can also occur initially.
This happens when the body starts breaking down fats into acids called ketones for energy. Symptoms may include:
- Dry, red skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bad breath
- Stomach pain
- Difficulty breathing
Therefore, it is recommended to eat foods containing vitamin C to reduce symptoms, especially on the respiratory system.
Type 2 diabet
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin or use it effectively.
People with type 2 diabetes may or may not need insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, and according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [NIDDK (3)].
Anyone, including children and adults, can develop type 2 diabetes.
It has a strong relationship with obesity and Eating disorders.
Most patients with type 2 diabetes use medications in addition to some sports activities, such as:
- Aerobic
- Anaerobic
- Agility training
- Walking
managing a special diet based mostly on plant foods.
What are the early signs of type 2 diabetes?
The early signs and symptoms(4) Trusted Source of type 2 diabetes can include:
- Frequent urination, particularly at night
- Increased thirsty and dehydration
- Frequent hunger, regardless of how recently they have eaten
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Slow healing of cuts and wounds
- Numbness, or pain in the hands or feet
- Patches of darker skin
- Itching and yeast infections in the mouth, genital areas, and armpits
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Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when a woman becomes less sensitive to insulin, for many reasons:
- Weight gain or obesity during pregnancy
- The factor is hereditary
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC(5)], 2-10% of pregnancies each year result in gestational diabetes.
Especially overweight individuals, they have an increased risk of developing this condition. About 50% of people with gestational diabetes will later develop type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, people should take steps to manage gestational diabetes, these include:
- Modifying the diet to suit diabetes
- Stay active and athletic
- Monitor the growth and development of the fetus regularly
- Monitor blood sugar levels regularly
Gestational diabetes can cause several risks, the most important of which are:
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
- Increased birth weight
- Premature birth
- Increased risk of a child developing type 2 diabetes later in life
What are the signs of gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes may not show any obvious signs, as many of the changes can be similar to those that occur during pregnancy.
However, possible symptoms include:
- Extreme thirst
- Nausea and vomiting
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Recurrent bladder or vaginal infections
- Urinalysis shows the presence of sugar
If there are strange symptoms, do not hesitate to consult a medical care official who will determine the presence of gestational diabetes or not.
Less common types of diabetes
There are types of diabetes that are less common than the previous three types, such as:
Type 3 diabetes:
This type of diabetes, which people also call pancreatic diabetes, can result(6) from damage to the pancreas after:
- An operation in the body
- Surgery to remove an organ
- Injury
- Disease, such as inflammation of the pancreas responsible for insulin secretion
Monogenic diabetes:
In this type, a change in a single gene leads to the development of the condition. There are two main types of monogenic diabetes:
- Neonatal diabetes
- Maturity-onset diabetes in young children
Diabetes associated with cystic fibrosis:
It is a rare condition. People with cystic fibrosis may develop this type of diabetes as a complication of the disease and an advanced stage of it.
Prediabetes
Also called borderline diabetes, it occurs when a person’s blood sugar levels are high but not enough to cause obvious diabetes symptoms.
People with prediabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but with fewer symptoms than people with overt type 2.
There are factors that may indicate the risk of developing prediabetes, including:
- A family history of diabetes
- Previous high blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes
- Over 45 years old
- Obesity and overweight
- Previous history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- (HDL) cholesterol level is less than 40-50 mg/dL
- Not doing enough physical activities
- Family origins are African, American, Latin, or regions located on the Pacific Ocean
WThere are some criteria(7) that must be present for prediabetes to be diagnosed:
- The A1C test result ranges between 5.7 and 6.4%
- The sugar test ranges between (140 - 199) mg/dL
- Fasting blood sugar test, ranging from (100-125) mg/dL
A health care professional determines the type of diabetes after appropriate analysis and diagnosis.
Preventing diabetes
Preventing diabetes does not prevent the disease, but it reduces the symptoms and suffering experienced by the affected person.
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| Eating healthy foods for diabetes, sporting activities such as walking. Designed by Nazihpharmacy |
By taking some personal procedures(8), prevention can be activated, such as:
- Eating a balanced diet, the most vegetarian andOmega-3, while limiting sugars, foods rich in bad fats, and ready-made meals
- Lose weight up to a specific level and maintain the new weight
- Eating anti-inflammatory foods to avoid diabetes complications
- Eating foods containing vitamin D to reduce symptoms and immune diseases in diabetics
- Practicing physical and sporting activities such as walking and running every day
Not everyone can prevent type 1 diabetes, and people may go on to develop either type 2 or gestational diabetes.
How does insulin resistance develop
People with type 1 diabetes need insulin. However, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes.
The role of insulin is to allow glucose found in food to reach the body’s cells to provide them with energy.
Insulin resistance is usually the result of a source cycle(9), as a simple explanation of this cycle:
- For reasons that are not clear, a person has genes or an environment that increases the likelihood that his body will not be able to produce enough insulin to cover the amount of sugar he eats
- The pancreas produces additional insulin to process excess blood sugar
- The pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demands, and excess blood sugar begins to circulate in the blood, causing damage to the cells
- After a period of sustained sugar increases, insulin becomes less effective at getting glucose into cells, and glucose levels, or blood sugar, continue to rise
Thus, insulin resistance occurs gradually in type 2 diabetes. For this reason, doctors often recommend lifestyle changes in an attempt to slow or reverse this cycle by reducing the need for insulin.
Using insulin
Some people living with type 2 diabetes and all people with type 1 diabetes need to be given insulin to keep blood sugar levels from getting too high.
Different types of insulin are available, they differ from each other in the duration of action:
- Fast-acting
- Short-acting
- Intermediate-acting
- Mixed
- Long-acting insulin
Your blood sugar levels are tested to determine the appropriate amount of insulin using a blood glucose monitor(10):
- Hypoglycemia <70 mg/dL
- Normal [70_117]mg/dL
- Prediabetic [117_137] mg/dL
- Diabetic >137 mg/dL
Assuming the level from any physical symptoms can be dangerous unless a person suspects severe low blood sugar and thinks they need a quick dose of glucose.
Taking too much insulin can lead to serious side effects, especially if a person is using too much of the medication.
It can cause hypoglycemia(11), or very low blood sugar, as well as nausea, tremors, sweating, and fatigue.
Therefore, it is essential that people carefully measure their insulin, adjust their medications based on their needs, and eat a healthy diet that helps balance blood sugar levels.
Tips for measuring blood sugar
All people living with diabetes use a blood glucose meter and also a device called a lancet to prick their finger.
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| Many devices to monitor and control diabetes. Get a grip on diabetes. Designed by Nazihpharmacy |
The idea of drawing blood may cause distress to some people, but pricking the skin to obtain a blood sample should be a gentle and simple procedure.
Many measuring devices(12) only require a tear-sized blood sample.
These are some tips that a person may find useful:
- Clean the skin with warm water and soap to avoid getting dirt or food residue into the device.
- Choose a small, thin scalpel for maximum comfort without pain.
- Use your fingertips to obtain a blood sample that produces more accurate results.
- Adjust the scalpel's depth settings for comfort.
- Taking blood from the side of your middle finger, ring finger, and little finger may be more comfortable.
- Force the blood to the surface with a "milking" motion rather than applying pressure to the puncture site.
- Dispose of used scalpels in a safe place and properly kept away.
Don't forget that self-monitoring requires people to make adjustments to their lifestyle, but it does not have to be an uncomfortable and painful process.
Tips for diabetics
After the doctor diagnoses someone with diabetes, the doctor recommends making lifestyle(13) changes to support weight management and overall health with nutrition and activity advice.
Such as referring a person with diabetes or prediabetes to a nutritionist, who directs people with diabetes to follow an active and balanced lifestyle with careful management.
Steps a person can take to manage diabetes include:
- Avoid high-sugar foods such as juices, sweetened soft drinks, and high-sugar desserts
- Avoid fried and grilled foods high in bad fats and ready-made foods that may also raise blood cholesterol.
- Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol and energy drinks, as they have a bad effect on diabetics
- Eating foods rich in omega-3 such as okra and almonds to reduce the symptoms and diseases associated with diabetes
- Eat a healthy diet rich in fresh, nutritious plant foods, including whole grains such as sesame and oats
- Eating fruits such as blueberries and avocados, vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy products, and healthy plant fat sources such as nuts
- Do physical activities daily, such as walking for 30 minutes, aerobics, or swimming
- Monitor blood sugar levels regularly and pay attention to symptoms of low blood sugar, such as dizziness, general weakness, excessive sweating, and confusion
Prevention tips help manage diabetes during perimenopause or menopause due to hormonal changes.
The specialist doctor is the first advisor to determine the appropriate steps to manage diabetes.
How to Treat Diabetes medicinally
Diabetes is a chronic disorder in which the body does not produce or use insulin effectively.
Treatments include medication, lifestyle modifications, and managing any complications. The goal of diabetes treatment is to return blood sugar to a safe threshold.
Insulin
Insulin has several different delivery methods.
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| Take your insulin carefully. The most effective site is the abdomen, but it can also be in the arm or thigh. Photo by unsplsh |
The most common methods include:
- Insulin pen: These are more expensive than needles but are easier to use and resemble a pen with a needle rather than a tip
- Insulin pump: Provides small, continuous doses of insulin throughout the day
- Needle and syringe: The individual draws liquid insulin from the bottle and injects it. The most effective site is the abdomen, but it can also be in the arm or thigh
- Jet injector: This method delivers a fine, high-pressure mist to the skin instead of a needle injection
- Inhaler: People can inhale some types of powdered insulin from an inhaler
- Injection port: The injection port is an alternative to daily skin puncture, as it contains a short tube used by a person who needs to inject insulin directly under the skin. They then inject insulin into the port
Metformin
Metformin(14) is a main drug for type 2 diabetes that people take in tablet or liquid form.
It reduces glucose production in the liver and makes muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin to improve glucose absorption. It can also help with weight loss.
Bile acid sequestrants (BASs)
These reduce cholesterol and blood sugar, and are safe for people who also have liver problems.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol slow the breakdown of starches into glucose after a meal and slow the increase in blood sugar levels.
DPP-4 inhibitors
Alogliptin, linagliptin, and saxagliptin help improve blood glucose binding without causing low blood sugar levels.
Meglitinide
Nateglinide and repaglinide stimulate insulin release but may cause hypoglycemia. Caution should be given.
Sulfonylureas
Glimepiride, glipizide, and chlorpropamide stimulate insulin release in the pancreas.
SGLT2 inhibitors
Commonly used, canagliflozin and dapagliflozin help prevent glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, which causes sugars to be excreted from the body through urine.
Thiazolidinediones
Pioglitazone slows glucose production in the liver and improves insulin function in fat and muscle.
GLP-1 agonists
Dulglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, lixenatide, and semaglutide can aid in weight loss and can reduce cardiovascular disease.
Complications of diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic and serious disease. It may lead to death. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in the United States in 2021.
Of course, diabetes can be controlled, but its complications can severely affect daily life and even your relationship with your partner, If it is not treated immediately.
Complications of diabetes include:
- Nerve damage
- Vision disorders
- Ketoacidosis
- Kidney problems
- High blood pressure
- Apoplexy
- Foot problems
- Weak gums and teeth
Proper nutrition, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, and reducing sugar intake can help people prevent the most harmful complications of diabetes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some frequently asked questions about diabetes treatment:
What is the most common medication for type 2 diabetes?
The most common medication for type 2 diabetes is metformin. Metformin reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver, which leads to lower blood glucose levels.
What is the best treatment for type 2 diabetes?
The doctor is the one who determines the appropriate treatment. However, common treatment options include the following types of medications:
- Metformin
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- Sulfonylurea
- Thiazolidinedione
- DPP-4 inhibitors
- GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists
What drink lowers blood sugar?
The best drink for a diabetic patient is:
- Water
- Herbal drinks
- Herbal tea
- Unsweetened natural juices
- Smoothies are intended for diabetes
Does type 2 diabetes need insulin?
Some people with type 2 diabetes may need insulin shots. Insulin can help the body use glucose for energy.
Summary
Diabetes is a chronic, serious, life-altering condition that requires careful blood sugar management and healthy lifestyle strategies so that a person can manage it and live a normal life without anxiety and fear of the coming days.
Anyone who suspects they have diabetes should contact a doctor.
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