There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t produce insulin. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas when food is absorbed, so as food accumulates in the blood in someone with type 1 diabetes, sugar levels get too high. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and occurs when your body does not use insulin properly.
Diabetes Management Plans
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you'll need to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully in order to avoid complications. Checking your blood sugars daily at home with a glucometer is one way you can do this. The fasting target (when you haven't eaten or had any liquids for eight hours or longer) for patients is between 4mmol/L and 7mmol/L.
Having your A1C levels checked can tell you how well your diabetes management is working. An A1C level provides information about a person's average blood glucose control over the past two to three months. The A1C target for most patients is 7.0% or lower. Keeping an A1C within a normal range can help reduce the complications of diabetes in the future. When these targets are not reached patients put themselves at risk for heart disease, stroke, eye damage, nerve damage and kidney damage.
Types of Diabetes Treatments
There are a number of lifestyle considerations for diabetes patients who are trying to lower and control blood sugar levels. The first one is to have a healthy meal plan. There’s no set diabetes diet - it simply means eating healthy foods in moderate amounts at regular mealtimes. You want to eat a diet that’s low in fat and calories and rich in nutrients, including vegetables, fruits and whole grains. If you have diabetes, your doctor will probably recommend that you see a dietitian to create a healthy eating plan, control your blood sugar (glucose), control risk factors for heart disease and manage your weight. When blood glucose levels get too high, it can lead to complications such as hyperglycemia, heart, nerve and kidney damage. Having a healthy meal plan in place, exercising regularly and learning how to manage stress will all contribute to staying healthy.
Insulin therapy is one treatment option available to patients with diabetes. All patients with type 1 diabetes and some patients with type 2 diabetes will require insulin. There are several types of insulin on the market so patients need to discuss the options carefully with their healthcare provider to decide what therapy would best suit them. Your local Endocrinologist can help with Insulin levels.
There are three key types of insulin: Bolus, Basal and Premixed Insulin:
- Bolus insulin is an insulin designed to act quickly and briefly and is effective at controlling sugars after eating a meal, lasting for approximately 3 -5 hours.
- Basal insulin is designed to act slowly over a longer period of time to cover a full day.
- Premixed insulin is a combination of bolus and basal insulin, which can be administered at the same time, however, it does limit flexibility as it comes as a fixed dose.
- Insulin is injected just under the skin or "subcutaneously" with an insulin pen that uses a very small needle. They can be prefilled, reusable or disposable and often already have a needle tip added.
Almost 90% of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. If you're overweight or obese, you will need to create an effective diet and exercise plan with your diabetes healthcare team. Being overweight or obese puts added pressure on the body's ability to properly use insulin to control blood sugar levels.
Talk to your endocrinologist if you'd like more information on diabetes treatment.
Visit HealthChoicesFirst.com for more videos and resources on diabetes.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider or endocrinologist.
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If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you'll need to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully in order to avoid complications. Checking your blood sugars daily at home with a glucometer is one way you can do this.
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Having your A1C levels checked can tell you how well your diabetes management is working. An A1C level provides information about a person's average blood glucose control over the past two to three months.
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If you have diabetes, your local endocrinologist doctor will probably recommend that you see a dietitian to create a healthy eating plan, control your blood sugar (glucose), control risk factors for heart disease and manage your weight.
-
Insulin therapy is one treatment option available to patients with diabetes. All patients with type 1 diabetes and some patients with type 2 diabetes will require insulin.
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Almost 90% of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. If you're overweight or obese, you will need to create an effective diet and exercise plan with your diabetes healthcare team.
Adherence:
Adhering to your medications, prescribed exercises or lifestyle changes (such as dietary changes, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, etc.) is essential to improving health outcomes successfully. Compliance to any prescribed treatment is the number one thing you can do to ensure positive changes and optimal treatment outcomes with your local endocrinologist .
here are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, while in type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin properly.
Managing diabetes involves monitoring blood sugar levels to avoid complications. This can be done by checking blood sugar levels regularly at home using a glucometer. The fasting target for blood sugar levels is usually between 4mmol/L and 7mmol/L.
The A1C test is another important tool to assess diabetes management. It provides information about average blood glucose control over the past two to three months. The target A1C level for most patients is 7.0% or lower. Keeping the A1C within a normal range can help reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, eye damage, nerve damage, and kidney damage.
Having a healthy meal plan is essential for diabetes management. There is no set diabetes diet, but it generally involves eating healthy foods in moderate amounts at regular mealtimes. A dietitian can help create a personalized eating plan that controls blood sugar, manages weight, and reduces the risk factors for heart disease.
Insulin therapy is necessary for all patients with type 1 diabetes and some patients with type 2 diabetes. There are different types of insulin available, including bolus, basal, and premixed insulin. The choice of insulin therapy should be discussed with a healthcare provider, such as an endocrinologist.
Weight management is crucial for patients with type 2 diabetes, as obesity and overweight are common risk factors. Creating an effective diet and exercise plan with the help of a diabetes healthcare team is important to control blood sugar levels and improve overall health.
Adherence to medications, prescribed exercises, and lifestyle changes is essential for successful diabetes management. Following the recommended treatment plan and making necessary lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes, smoking cessation, and reduced alcohol consumption, can greatly improve health outcomes.
If you have diabetes, it's important to consult with your healthcare provider, such as an endocrinologist, for more information and guidance on diabetes treatment and management.
Useful Resources
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Sarah is a 32 year-old software engineer who presents with a one year history of fatigue, difficulty losing weight, dry skin, cold intolerance and difficulty concentrating. She has been busy working long hours and initially attributed her symptoms to long work hours and stress. Her mother has a history of hypothyroidism.
At her routine follow-up with her family physician, Sarah mentioned her symptoms, and her physician noted slight enlargement of her thyroid gland. The results of her blood tests were as follows:
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): 15.6 mIU/L (N 0.32-400 mIU/L) Free thyroxine (Free T4): 7 pmol/L (N 9-19 pmol/L)
The combination of signs and symptoms along with bloodwork showing an elevated TSH and low Free T4 confirmed the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, almost certainly due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common cause of hypothyroidism and typically more common in women than men and often associated with a family history of thyroid disease.
Sarah is started on thyroid hormone replacement therapy with a high quality brand preparation of levothyroxine (Synthroid®). Her pharmacist instructs her to take the medication on an empty stomach every morning. Within about 6 weeks, all of Sarah’s symptoms have resolved and she has returned to feeling perfectly normal. Repeat bloodwork done 8 weeks after initiating treatment revealed a normal TSH.
Sarah will benefit from regular follow-up with her family physician, with TSH testing at least once yearly or if symptoms return. Her pharmacist can help with ongoing reminders about how to properly take her medication.