Therapy of Diabetes
adapted to the degree of the metabolic disorder
take targeted countermeasures with medical care
Diabetes means that the body can no longer process blood sugar properly and now needs help. Regardless of whether your metabolic disorder is just beginning or you already have severe symptoms. The resulting constantly elevated blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels without you noticing it at first. Since the damage is not directly noticeable, it usually remains untreated for a while and lays the foundation for many secondary diseases. It is precisely for this reason that it is necessary to actively look after your own health and to take early and targeted countermeasures, including medical care.
Diabetes treatment involves a combination of several important measures to optimize blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of serious secondary diseases:
- Adapting lifestyle habits
- Change of diet, with a view to lowering the blood sugar level
- Exercise, with a view to lowering the blood sugar level
- Comprehensive information about diabetes, so that you can live actively and purposefully yourself
- Regular self-monitoring of blood sugar
- Individual therapy and medical care
In type 1 diabetes no insulin is produced at all (absolute insulin deficiency), which is why regular insulin intake is vital, as well as a sensible diet and physical activity. There are different types of insulin therapy.
In type 2 diabetes, non-drug measures such as diet, increased physical activity and, if necessary, weight reduction are the first line of treatment. In some cases, these basic measures already help to normalise blood sugar levels. If these measures do not lead to sufficient success, oral antidiabetics (drug therapy) are usually used. In most cases, treatment is started with a single active substance. If this does not achieve a satisfactory blood sugar level, combinations of different active substances are also possible. If oral antidiabetics do not achieve a sufficiently good blood sugar level at normal dosages, insulin is also used in therapy of type 2 diabetes.
In the treatment with insulin today, an attempt is made to come as close as possible to the insulin release of a healthy person. A distinction is made between the following forms of insulin therapy:
- Meal-based insulin therapy
- Conventional insulin therapy (CT)
- Intensified insulin therapy (ICT)
- Insulin pump therapy (CSII)
More information:
Oral Antidiabetics
Insulin
Types of insulin therapy
Injection technique