Treating diabetes

PLEASE NOTE: you must see a doctor for a full check-up before attempting any changes in diet or lifestyle, and ask them for their advice.

I have selected some books and other multimedia resources that you may find helpful in changing your lifestyle. Click here to go to the diabetes shop.

But doctor I feel well

Changes in lifestyle

How much exercise is enough?

Changes in diet

Oral medications

Insulin injections

"But doctor I feel well!"

Patients often have poor motivation to try any of these options simply because they feel well now. But if these steps are not taken many health problems can develop including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, impotence, circulatory problems and nerve damage. The diagnosis of diabetes is only the first step. Many things can be done to keep diabetes at bay and prevent any problems later in life. Following these steps is essential. If you do not have diabetes, following these simple steps can reduce your chances of developing diabetes!

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Changes in lifestyle

Inactivity will promote weight gain and the links between diabetes and its complications and obesity (being overweight) is well established. Thus we must try to keep ourselves as active as possible. The best form of exercise for diabetes is called cardiovascular exercise (basically anything that can get you out of breath, e.g. walking, jogging, swimming). Joining local community groups makes it easier.

Stopping smoking would be very beneficial to your health and may prevent many diabetic complications.

Checking your own blood sugar as necessary would give you an idea of how well you are controlling the disease.

Feet are a common site of problems so they should be checked every day for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, redness, or sore toenails.

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How much exercise is enough?

Ideally we should be aiming for at least three, 30 minute sessions a week. But don't be too disheartened if this is not possible! Build yourself up slowly. You don't have to do three dedicated slots of exercise a week. Instead, you can try to be more active throughout each day by walking instead of taking a bus, doing the gardening and so on. Every little bit counts!

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Changes in diet

A diet suitable for patients with diabetes is exactly the same as that recommended for everybody who wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is recommended that 50 to 60 percent of daily calories come from carbohydrates, 12 to 20 percent from protein, and no more than 30 percent from fat. In simpler terms we should be eating more starchy foods, cutting down on sugary foods (cakes and sweets) and eating less fatty foods (less fried foods and red meat).

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Oral medications

Diet and exercise can often bring blood glucose levels down to normal. When these measures are no longer enough, the next step is the addition of medications that lower blood glucose levels.

These include:

Only people with type 2 diabetes can use oral medications; they are not helpful for a person with type 1 diabetes, whose pancreas has lost all ability to produce insulin.

Maintaining a proper diet and exercise program is important even when taking diabetes oral medications, which work with diet and exercise, not in place of them. Try to take your medication at the same time each day.

Diabetes oral medications do not work for everyone and may sometimes stop working after a few months or years.

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Insulin injections

Even when diabetes pills do work, there may be the need to take insulin. And, because diabetes pills may help the body use insulin better, some doctors combine them with insulin injections in people with hard-to-control type 2 diabetes.

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