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Treatment of Diabetes
By peace | November 22, 2007
Can Diabetes Be Prevented?
The ideal treatment would be to prevent diabetes occurring at all. We do not understand what are the triggers that cause damage to the small beta cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The genes that predispose patients to this damage are being identified, but precisely what they control, and how the damage is initiated, remain unclear. Nevertheless, once these questions are answered, it is perhaps feasible that repairing these genes in patients at risk of diabetes could prevent them developing the condition.
Treatment with Insulin
If you are treated with insulin, you should have:
- frequent sessions for basic instruction on injection technique, looking after insulin and syringes and pens, blood glucose testing and what the results mean.
- supplies of relevant equipment
- discussion about hypoglycaemia and how to deal with it
Treatment with Tablets
If you are treated with tablets, you should have:
- a discussion about the possibility of hypoglycaemia and how to deal with it
- instruction on blood or uric testing and what the results mean and supplies of relevant equipment
Treatment by Diet
If you are treated by diet alone, you should have:
- instruction on blood or urine testing and what the results mean and supplies of relevant equipment
Diabetic Control
Once your diabetes is reasonably controlled, you should:
- have access to the diabetes team at regular intervals
- be able to contact any member of the healthcare team for specialist advice when you need it
- have more education sessions as you become ready for them
- have a formal medical review once a year by a doctor experienced in diabetes
New Treatments
For the vast majority of patients, it is important to discover new treatments to prevent or reduce the risk of developing some of the more serious complications. These treatments will concentrate on some of the basic mechanisms that cause eye, kidney and nerve damage. Careful control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels have also been shown to be effective, and it is likely that newer treatments in these areas will be developed. Much can really be done to reduce the risks of problems from your diabetes by regular care by both yourself and your diabetes care team.
Topics: Diseases |
