Diabetic patients will need to work constantly with their health care
professional to guarantee their long-term health. Patients will require a
long-term treatment plan that works for them. Diabetes patients who are left
untreated, run the risk of many other health issues that can stem from
uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Diabetes
treatments are not the same for all patients although all treatments
have the same goal in mind, keeping your blood sugar in check.
Insulin dependent diabetes (Type 1) generally is diagnosed early in
life. For those patients, exercise and diet along with prescribed insulin
injections will likely be part of your long-term treatment plan. For
those who have non-insulin dependent diabetes (Type 2), not only will diet and
exercise be required, but you must be monitored for other problems.
Type 2 Diabetes can create other issues
While neither form of diabetes is without other health implications,
Type 2 has certain dangers that are critical to understand. Type 2 Diabetes
means that your body may be unable to process the insulin that it creates. This
can lead to requiring a change in treatment plans to make sure that the body
continues to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Treatments options vary
There are multiple treatment options for either type of diabetes. While
oral medication may work for some people, there are also insulin injections
(which may now be provided through the use of a pump) which may prove more
effective for some patients. Side effects from oral medication can range
from simple upset stomach to a more threatening low blood glucose level, which
must be addressed as quickly as possible. Whatever treatment options your
physician recommends, it must be adhered to carefully.
Exercise and medications
It is important to discuss with your physician how your exercise plan
impacts your diabetes medication. In some cases, you may need to increase or
decrease your medication on days where you exercise heavily or do not exercise
at all. Both of these factors may have an impact on how your medication works.
Know your risk factors
It is important that you understand all of the potential risk factors
for diabetes related problems. In addition, you should understand how your
treatment plan will affect those risk factors, including diabetic retinopathy,
heart disease and other ailments.
Patients who have diabetes must
work closely with their health care professional to manage their diabetes.
Failing to do so can have a negative impact on your overall quality of life.
Understanding how to treat your diabetes using a combination of diet, exercise
and medication will help you stay healthier.
Image credit: By BruceBlaus
(Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons
