Discovering Diabetes - Part II Insulin and Tablets

No matter what type of diabetes you've been diagnosed with, the goal remains the same - get your blood sugar levels under control! The first method I will discuss for doing this is via insulin injections.

Insulin

Insulin is the hormone your body requires to absorb sugar. If you've been diagnosed with type I diabetes,that means your body has basically stopped producing this hormone, and so it will be necessary for you to supply it via injection. Injections are administered approximately 15-30 minutes before meal time. The number of injections necessary depends on the individual case, and what your doctor feels will work best. Many people require 2; some, however, require 3-4. Either a diabetes educator or a health care professional will teach you how to administer the injections safely and properly.

While injections may seem a bit scary and painful at first, like any difficult changes in life - you learn to live with them. Over time you'll get so used to it, that you might just find you don't even notice the injections!

TabletsMedication

If you've been diagnosed with type II diabetes, there are a variety of different treatments available to you. Depending on the severity of your case, the doctor will choose which form of treatment he feels is most appropriate for you. While more severe diagnoses may require insulin injections, in many cases medication in the form of tablets will suffice.

There are four4 basic classes of medication available for treatment:

1. The Sulfonylureas (the "sulfa drugs") - This is the first class of drugs that was developed for diabetes II treatment;, however, it has proven to be particularly ineffective. After 3 months of continual use, the drugs ceased to be effective in over thirty percent of the diabetics using them. They have also proven to be associated with side effects such as hypoglycaemia, allergic skin reactions, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and liver damage.

2. Biguanide Class - Agents that increase your body's glycaemic efficiency. One of the popular examples of this class of drug being prescribed by doctors today is "Metformin," on the drug market since 1957.

3. Thiazolidinediones - Agents that improve your body's resistance to insulin. One of the popular examples of this class of drug being prescribed by doctors today is Troglitazone.

4. Alpha glucosidase inhibitors - Agents that improve your body's hydrolysis and absorption of oligosaccharides (double glucose chains). One of the popular examples of this class of drug being prescribed by doctors today is Acarbose.

Taking these medications in combination withwhile adhering to a healthy diet and exercise has proven to be a comprehensive form of treatment for diabetes II, as well as a preventor ofpreventive measure against any further disease- related complications. It mustYou should be warned, however, that like many medications, these too come with a host of minor associated side effects, and it is important to discuss them with your doctor or health care professional in advance.

Glucose Tests

You will need to obtain an at home blood glucose meter to help monitor your glucose levels, making sure that they do not rise too high or drop too low.

People administering themselves daily insulin injections (i.e., type I and some with type II) should generally be checking their glucose levels 3x a day before meals. You may find however, that on certain days, depending on your glucose fluctuations, 4-5 checks may be necessary, while on other days, 1-2 checks will suffice.

People with type II diabetes on tabletsoral medication, or on a monitored diet, should generally be checking their glucose levels once to or twice a week, either before meals, or 90 minutes after the meal.

If your glucose levels drop below the norm, it is crucial for you to quickly get some sugar into your system via a soft drink, honey, candy, etc. If they rise above the norm, either adjust your meal plan, your insulin injections, or both. Whenever in doubt, always be sure to consult with your physician or healthcare professional.