Treatment for diabetes is similar for Type 1 and Type 2 (read more). The major difference is whether you take injectible insulin or control your diabetes by diet, exercise, and perhaps oral medication. Minor differences can be noted by reading the general treatment for both types.
Type 1 Diabetic Divas can benefit from a healthy lifestyle, but their pancreas is not likely to mend and start producing insulin again, so getting off insulin injections is typically not going to happen. Type 2 Diabetic Divas, on the other hand, may need to lose extra weight, but their diabetes is more likely to respond favorably to such health improvements.
As always, follow your doctor's instructions in treating your diabetes. This website is for general information only.
Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
If you have Type 1 diabetes (read more), these things are important to effectively treat your condition so you can lead a relatively normal Diabetic Diva life:
• Get appropriate medical guidance from, and have ongoing communication with, your doctor and perhaps a diabetes educator.
• Test your blood sugar level (BGL) several times a day, as specified by your doctor, to know how much insulin to administer to keep your BGL within a healthy range (90 to 100 mg/dL).
• Inject insulin throughout the day as directed by your doctor.
• Count carbohydrates in your meals and snacks in order to administer the correct dose of insulin.
• Get an A1C test done regularly, usually quarterly or twice a year, per your doctor's instructions. This will reveal how well you have been controling your BGL during the past several months, and what your risks are for serious complications. It can be a wake up call for you to keep a closer eye on your BGL in order to keep it in a more healthy range regularly, thus reducing your health risks.
• Have your eyes examined and tested once or twice a year by an opthamologist to check your vision and the condition of the blood vessels in your retinas, which may be damaged by diabetes.
• Brush your teeth, floss, and gargle daily. Tooth and gum problems develop more quickly in diabetics. See your dentist regularly (twice a year or more often if recommended) for check-ups and professional cleaning. Keeping teeth and gums healthy may result in better overall health.
• Test the feeling in your feet with monofilament line at home as instructed by your doctor to keep track of any numbness caused by diabetes. In addition, take off your shoes at each doctor's visit and remind your doctor to test your feet.
• Pay close attention to your feet. Wash and dry them thoroughly every day, especially between the toes. Treat any 'athlete's foot' with a fungicide if directed by your doctor. Trim or have someone else trim your toenails correctly to avoid cuts, tears, hangnails, or irritation from nails that are too long. Examine your feet daily for any sores or blisters that could become infected and not heal properly, leading to serious complications such as gangrene. Always wear shoes or slippers to avoid getting nicks and cuts on your feet that you might not feel. Read more....
• Wear comfortable shoes and socks that do not bind or constrict your feet and legs to prevent dangerous circulation problems. Your doctor may recommend shoes with deep toe boxes to give your toes more room than standard shoes. Socks designed for diabetic feet are also available.
• Have a thorough physical exam with lab tests regularly to check the condition of your skin, eyes, vital organs, nerves, blood vessels, and general health.
• Eat a well-balanced, low GI diet to help control your BGL. Low GI meals release glucose more slowly into your bloodstream, which helps you maintain a lower and more even BGL.
• Build your overall health and strengthen your immune system: eat whole grains, low-fat protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables; take nutritional supplements; drink sufficient water; get 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine daily; exercise according to your doctor's instructions to maintain or lose weight, build muscle and bone strength, and keep your heart healthy; bathe daily; sleep as long as needed when possible; have a reasonable amount and type of recreation so you feel refreshed, not exhausted or constantly distracted from more important matters.
• Check your BGL before and after exercise to make sure it doesn't fall too low (see Hypoglycemia), and keep glucose tablets with you in case it does.
• Wear a diabetic ID bracelet or necklace, or carry ID on your person that states you are diabetic and what treatment you are on. This will help emergency medical and law enforcement personnel to determine your condition and treat you appropriately. Low BGL (hypoglycemia) can cause a person to act intoxicated, so it's important that you carry ID that clearly identifies you as having diabetes and that you are possibly suffering from hypoglycemia. Properly trained staff will know how to treat your condition, and not throw you in the slammer for being drunk in public! Of course, this probably won't happen if you closely monitor and treat your diabetes.
• Never drive if (1) your diabetes is not under good control, or (2) you have no idea what your BGL is, or (3) you don't have glucose tablets with you, or (4) you just aren't feeling well. Your BGL can drop unexpectedly for various reasons, resulting in confusion and incoherence similar to intoxication, and you could serously injure yourself or others—or worse. Be a responsible Diabetic Diva. Don't endanger anyone. (Even if no one is hurt, you could have your driver's license revoked. It could take an act of Congress to get it reinstated.)
Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
If you have Type 2 diabetes (read more), these things are important to effectively treat your condition so you can lead a relatively normal life:
• Get appropriate medical guidance from, and have ongoing communication with, your doctor and perhaps a diabetes educator.
• Test your blood sugar level (BGL) several times a day, as specified by your doctor, and record it. (See Printable Forms) A healthy range is 90 to 100 mg/dL.
• Take medication as prescribed by your doctor. Get medical advice if you have any questions or experience unwanted side effects.
• Eat according to your doctor's prescribed meal plan. Endeavor to eat well-balanced, low GI meals so that glucose enters your bloodstream more slowly, which will help prevent sharp fluctuations of BGL. This will help you control your diabetes better and avoid some of its symptoms, such as moodiness and irritability.
• Attain and maintain a normal weight. This will help you control your diabetes and may help you reverse some symptoms you currently have. Ask your doctor to help you plan a weight-loss and maintenance program.
• Get an A1C test done regularly, usually quarterly or twice a year, depending on your doctor's instructions. This will reveal how well you have been controling your BGL during the past several months and what your risks are for serious complications. It can be a wake up call for you to more closely monitor your BGL in order to keep it in a more healthy range (90 to 100 mg/dL) regularly, thus reducing your health risks.
• Have your eyes examined and tested once or twice a year by an opthamologist to check your vision and the condition of the blood vessels in your retinas, which may be damaged by diabetes.
• Brush your teeth, floss, and gargle daily. Tooth and gum problems develop more quickly in diabetics and are more difficult to resolve. See your dentist regularly (twice a year or more often if recommended) for check-ups and professional cleanings. Keeping teeth and gums healthy may result in better overall health.
• Test the feeling in your feet with monofilament line at home once a week or as instructed by your doctor to keep track of any numbness (nerve damage) caused by diabetes. In addition, take off your shoes at each doctor's visit and remind your doctor to test your feet.
• Pay close attention to your feet. Wash and dry them thoroughly every day, especially between the toes. Treat any 'athlete's foot' with a fungicide if directed by your doctor. Trim or have someone else trim your toenails correctly to avoid cuts, tears, hangnails, or irritation from nails that are too long. Examine your feet daily for any sores or blisters that could become infected and not heal properly, leading to serious complications such as gangrene. Always wear shoes or slippers to avoid getting nicks and cuts on your feet that you might not feel and that might not heal.
• Wear comfortable shoes and socks that do not bind or constrict your feet and legs to prevent dangerous circulation problems. Your doctor may recommend shoes with deep toe boxes to give your toes more room than standard shoes. Socks designed for diabetic feet are also available.
• Have a thorough physical exam with lab tests regularly to check the condition of your skin, eyes, vital organs, nerves, blood vessels, and general health.
• Build your overall health and strengthen your immune system: eat whole grains, low-fat protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables; take nutritional supplements; drink sufficient water; get 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine daily; exercise according to your doctor's instructions to attain and maintain a normal weight, build muscle and bone strength, and keep your heart healthy; bathe daily; sleep as long as needed when possible; have a reasonable amount and type of recreation so you feel refreshed, not exhausted or distracted from more important things.
• Check your BGL before and after exercise to make sure it doesn't fall too low, and keep glucose tablets with you in case it does. (See Hypoglycemia)
• Wear a diabetic ID bracelet or necklace, or carry ID on your person that states you are diabetic and what treatment you are on. This will help emergency medical and law enforcement personnel to determine your condition and treat you appropriately. Low BGL (hypoglycemia) can cause a person to act intoxicated, so it's important that you carry ID that clearly identifies you as having diabetes and possibly suffering from low blood sugar. Properly trained staff will know how to treat your condition, and not throw you in the slammer for being drunk in public! Of course, this probably won't happen if you closely monitor and treat your diabetes.
• Never drive if (1) your diabetes is not under good control, or (2) you have no idea what your BGL is, or (3) you don't have glucose tablets with you, or (4) you just aren't feeling well. Your BGL can drop unexpectedly for various reasons, resulting in confusion and incoherence similar to intoxication, and you could serously injure yourself or others—or worse. Be a responsible Diabetic Diva. Don't endanger anyone. (Even if no one is hurt, you could have your driver's license revoked. Getting DMV to reinstate it could be one of your worst nightmares!)
