Insulin, Medicine and other Diabetes Treatment 

Posted by

Regulating blood sugar levels is the purpose of diabetes treatment to limit the complexities involved in disease. The medicine you consume depends on your diabetes level and how the medication checks your blood sugar levels.

With type 1 diabetes, insulin is the solution as your body does not make hormones. 

Type 2 diabetes can Control Blood Sugar levels by following a healthy diet, exercise, combined with diabetes medicines. 

If you have gestational diabetes, try to check your blood glucose levels first by following a healthy diet and engaging in physical activities. If it doesn’t work, you need to take medicines.

Insulin and its Types

Insulin refers to a hormone in our body that retains our blood sugar levels within the healthy range. If you have low insulin, the glucose level increases in your bloodstream, making you diabetic. 

One of the most common medications for diabetes treatment is Insulin. If you are a Type 1 diabetic patient, your body is unable to produce its own insulin. 

Several types of insulin are available, which work at varying speeds. Most kinds of insulin attain a zenith, i.e. when they produce the greatest impact and wear off later.

Rapid-acting insulin

Rapid-acting insulin begins to work between 2.5-20 minutes following injection. Its action is at its highest between one and three hours and can continue till five hours. 

It works more promptly after a meal in decreasing the chances of low blood sugar.

Short-acting insulin

Short-acting insulin starts to reduce blood glucose levels within 30 minutes following injection, so you have to inject 30 minutes before having a meal. It reaches a peak between two to five hours after injection and lasts for six to eight hours.

Intermediate-acting insulin

The intermediate-acting insulin is cloudy in nature, which requires perfect mixing. It begins to work within 60-90 minutes following injection. 

It attains its peak between 4-12 hours and lasts between 16-24 hours.

Long-acting insulin

Takes very long hours to function after injection and it does not peak. It lasts more than 24 hours.

Mixed insulin

Mixed insulin includes a pre-mixed mixture of rapid-acting or short-acting insulin with intermediate-acting insulin.

Ways to take insulin

How you take insulin depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Many people use either a needle, syringe, pen, or insulin pump. Or you can use less common ones like inhalers, injection ports, or jet injectors.

Aside from Insulin, any other Medicines for Diabetes?

If you don’t like injections, you can take many diabetes medicines orally. Metformin (an oral drug) reduces the amount of glucose your liver produces and assists your body in using insulin adequately. It may also support some weight loss.

Using two or three medicines can drop blood sugar levels much more effectively than taking just one medicine.

Possible side effects

One of the primary side effects of diabetes medicines is that they can lower glucose levels if you fail to balance them with diet and exercise.

Take your Diabetes Medicines according to your doctor’s instructions to prevent side effects and other complications.

Are there any other Treatment alternatives?

When medicines and lifestyle modifications are not sufficient to control your diabetes, some uncommon treatments are available. 

Bariatric surgery

This procedure can help people with obesity and Type 2 diabetes to lose weight and retrieve normal blood glucose levels. Some diabetic patients may no longer require to take diabetes medicine following bariatric surgery.

Artificial Pancreas

An artificial pancreas substitutes standard blood glucose measuring and the usage of insulin shots or a pump. Perhaps, it can relieve you from some of the everyday chores required to manage your blood levels or help you relax throughout the night without the necessity to get up and check your glucose level or take medication.

Pancreatic islet transplantation

A pancreatic islet transplant supplants damaged islets with fresh ones that produce and discharge insulin. This surgery removes islets from the pancreas of a donor and moves them to a Type 1 diabetic patient.

Any diet regiment to follow?

There is no prescribed diet treatment for diabetes. The main goal is to control your glucose level. You can take various healthy foods, such as whole grains, fruits, non-fatty meats, vegetables, poultry, fish, etc.

Bottom Line

Often, taking insulin or other diabetes medicines are the treatment for diabetes. When you combine healthy foods and exercise, insulin or medications can help Control Your Glucose Level.

Leave a Reply