Management is different for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Managing type 1 diabetes involves:
- taking insulin injections so that your body can regulate and use sugar
- following your doctor's advice about regulating your diet and getting appropriate
exercise
- monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly. Home blood-glucose monitor
kits that analyze a single drop of blood are very convenient for this purpose.
- using the Hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c test), which measures your blood sugar
control over time. Your doctor will do this test every two or three months
to see how effectively you're managing your blood sugar levels.
Insulin therapy is based on how much insulin your pancreas may be making and
how sensitive you are to it. The idea is to imitate the flow of insulin from
a normal pancreas so that your blood sugar can be kept close to normal all day.
Lifestyle, exercise, and eating patterns also affect this flow.
Managing type 2 diabetes involves:
- oral medications
- insulin injections (in some cases)
- dietary modifications
- weight control and exercise
- monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly
- using the Hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c test)
If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may prescribe oral medications (tablets
or capsules taken by mouth). There are many kinds of oral diabetes medications.
All of them work differently, but each lowers blood glucose. Ask your doctor
which medication or combination of medications is most appropriate for you.
Eating an appropriate, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly is especially
important in managing type 2 diabetes. Read more about this in "Nutrition
and exercise to control diabetes" in this health feature.