Thanks to the evolution of modern medicine, a range of treatments are available nowadays to treat and manage diabetes. Depending on the type of diabetes you have and your individual needs, your GP will suggest the most effective treatment that suits you and your lifestyle. One of the most popular ways of treating diabetes is through insulin injections via insulin pens or insulin pumps. Recent figures reveal that 1 in 1,000 people in the UK with diabetes use insulin pumps to help treat their diabetes.
In addition to diabetes medicines, making wise food/beverage decisions, having an active lifestyle, managing your emotions, and getting the correct amount of sleep per night can help you manage the condition. Other treatment options are also available, several of which we outline in our quick guide below:
Insulin
Everyone with type 1 diabetes and a select few with type 2 will need to take insulin to control their glucose levels. Most insulin users take it using a needle and syringe, yet the way you take it might depend on your lifestyle, preferences, or insurance plan. In addition to using a needle and syringe, there are various ways to take insulin, from inhalers, insulin pens, insulin jet injectors, or insulin pumps.
The latter option of taking insulin is excellent for users seeking an alternative to a traditional insulin pen and can boast several benefits. From not injecting as often to more flexibility in your diet, insulin pumps can give you greater flexibility over your diabetes and make it much easier to go about your daily life. Learn more about insulin pumps by visiting distributors’ websites, such as Air Liquide Healthcare, which supports diabetes patients across the UK with its products and services. Consider visiting their website for more information about their insulin pumps and gain more control over your diabetes plus kiss daily injections goodbye!
Tablets And Medication
Another standard treatment for type 2 diabetes is the prescription of tablets and other diabetes medication to help manage your blood glucose levels. Generally, the most prescribed form of tablet medication for type 2 diabetes is Metformin, which lowers the glucose production in your liver and makes your body more sensitive to insulin, so it is used more effectively.
Other common medications for lowering blood glucose levels are Pioglitazone, DPP-4 inhibitors or gliptins, GLP-1 agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors. Or you might be prescribed medication that helps you lose weight if required. However, the type of medication your GP prescribes is dependent on the type of diabetes you have, your preferences, and what is best for you.
Weight Loss Surgery
Another successful way of managing diabetes is through weight-loss surgery, also referred to as bariatric surgery or metabolic surgery. This procedure involves bypassing or reducing the stomach’s capacity so that you eat less and feel fuller for longer/quicker.
Studies have shown that as well as being a bonus for some people’s body image, that weight loss surgery is also effective at putting type 2 diabetes into remission. For some, their blood sugar levels go back to normal after surgery, meaning they might require no further medication or less.
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