webDailyHealth
Not all diabetes or diabetes must be treated with medication. At the beginning of treatment, the doctor will first advise patients to adjust their diet and adopt a healthy lifestyle, so that blood sugar levels can be controlled. Then when do drugs need to be used?
First of all, we must first distinguish the type of diabetes. Diabetes is divided into two types, namely, type 1 diabetes (DMT1) which usually appears at a young age and type 2 diabetes (DMT2) which usually appears in adulthood.
The main purpose of managing diabetes is to control blood sugar levels, either by regulating diet, lifestyle changes, or administering diabetes medications. If blood sugar levels are not controlled, complications can arise in various organs of the body, such as the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes.
Overcoming Diabetes with Medication
When administering drugs to treat diabetes can vary in each diabetic, depending on the condition of the disease and general health of the patient.
In type 1 diabetes, doctors will usually immediately provide treatment with drugs. This is because people with type 1 diabetes cannot produce enough insulin, so they need to be given insulin from outside. Treatment for this condition is generally in the form of insulin injections.
Whereas in type 2 diabetes, sufferers can produce insulin in sufficient quantities, but the body's cells are not sensitive to these hormones. This condition usually arises due to poor eating habits, rarely exercising, and being overweight.
So, in type 2 diabetes, if the patient has a controlled blood sugar level and a hemoglobin level of HbA1c below 7.5%, the doctor may only recommend dietary and exercise regulation, and weight loss.
However, if a person with diabetes has high blood sugar and hemoglobin HbA1c levels, the doctor will provide diabetes medication, either in the form of oral medication or injecting drugs, to control blood sugar levels and prevent complications.
Read Also : How much ideal body weight to avoid from diabetes?
Implement a Healthy Lifestyle
Treatment of diabetes is individual because each patient has different conditions and severity of the disease. Whether or not diabetes treatment is successful depends on your adherence to medication, and your diet and lifestyle.
Even though you are already using drugs, dietary settings and behavioral changes still need to be done so that treatment results are more optimal. You need to balance the use of diabetes medicine with the consumption of balanced nutritious foods, portion, and type of food arrangements, and regular exercise.
Read Also : HbA1c Examination to Detect and Control Diabetes
Other diabetes medications are also needed when blood sugar levels never go down
Although metformin is a drug that is usually given to control blood sugar levels, sometimes you also need other types of diabetes medications. If A1C levels don't go down in 3 months, even though metformin has been applied and the application of a healthy lifestyle, the doctor will give you other diabetes medications.
Some diabetes medications that are usually given after metformin, namely:
- Sulfonylureas
- Meglitinide
- Thiazolidinediones
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Incretin agents / GLP-1
- Insulin
Read Also : Conditions of diabetes that require insulin injections and how to use them
However, don't worry, insulin injections will usually be the last choice in your diabetes treatment. If you can control blood sugar levels with new diabetes medications that are given and continue to adopt a healthy lifestyle, then your doctor will not recommend insulin injections.
Besides, you also have to maintain the ideal body weight if you suffer from diabetes. That way, the level of sugar in your blood can be more easily controlled and your risk for complications will also be lower.
No less important, do routine control to the doctor during treatment. If necessary, check your blood sugar levels independently at home, as directed by your doctor. If you experience complaints that lead to diabetes complications, such as tingling, blurred vision, or difficult to heal wounds, consult a doctor immediately.
