Can You Get Rid of Diabetes?
While there is no cure for diabetes, there are many ways to mage it. The treatment pathway varies depending on the type of diabetes that you have. Jardiance, for example, is a popular medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by helping the kidneys remove glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes
You can effectively manage Type 1 diabetes by combining daily insulin injections with regular blood sugar monitoring and a healthy diet and exercise plan. Your doctor will be able to work with you to establish a suitable insulin treatment plan. You can administer insulin using a syringe, a pump, or an injection pen into fatty tissue.
Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes
Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes as the first point of treatment for Type 2 diabetics, as a healthy diet and increased physical activity are critical. Eating small, well-balanced meals throughout the day can help to stabilize blood sugar levels. You should include plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein, and whole grains.
For patients who are overweight or obese, weight loss is essential. It can even help put Type 2 diabetes into remission. For obese patients, a doctor may offer weight loss surgery in combination with healthy lifestyle modifications.
If lifestyle changes are unsuccessful, there are several prescription medications available. These medications, including metformin, glinides, and DPP-4 inhibitors, work in different ways to lower the blood sugar level. If treatment with a single drug is not effective, then your doctor may prescribe a combination of several medications.
Sometimes, Type 2 diabetics also need insulin therapy. As with Type 1 diabetes, you must carefully monitor your blood glucose levels at regular intervals.
Treatment for Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women with gestational diabetes will work closely with their doctor to formulate a treatment plan that will likely focus on diet modifications.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2, and each type is managed differently.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your body's immune system attacks the cells within your pancreas. These cells are destroyed, preventing your body's production of insulin. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you will have to administer daily insulin injections to ensure that your blood sugar levels remain controlled.
Roughly 10% of all people with diabetes have Type 1. While it is not clear what exactly leads to the body's autoimmune attack, scientists believe that your genetics may play a role and that the condition may be triggered by an environmental factor, such as a virus.
Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence; however, it can affect people of all ages.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is more commonly diagnosed in middle-aged and older adults. However, its occurrence is increasing in young children due to the effects of unhealthy lifestyles. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body will still produce insulin, but your cells will not respond to it appropriately. You may also not produce enough insulin.
While Type 2 diabetes is often more manageable and milder than Type 1, it can also lead to severe complications if left untreated.
Unlike Type 1, the causes of Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for around 90% of diagnosed cases, are more evident. The leading causes are genetics and lifestyle factors. Obesity, excess weight, and a lack of physical activity are the most important risk factors.
Gestational Diabetes
Diabetes can also develop during pregnancy, as the body loses its insulin sensitivity. This type of diabetes typically resolves after giving birth.
Always talk to your doctor or healthcare provider if you have questions about the best way to treat diabetes.