Treatment FAQ

what are the treatment for diabetes type 2

by Maribel Batz Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, others) is generally the first medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes. It works primarily by lowering glucose production in the liver and improving your body's sensitivity to insulin so that your body uses insulin more effectively.Jan 20, 2021

Medication

Natural Remedies For Diabetes Prevention Type 2

  1. ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar)
  2. Barley and fiber
  3. Chromium
  4. Zinc
  5. Aloe Vera Extract/Gel

Nutrition

Reversing diabetes is a term that usually refers to a significant long-term improvement in insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes that are able to get their HbA1c below 42 mmol/mol (6%) without taking diabetes medication are said to have reversed or resolved their diabetes.

What are home remedies for type 2 diabetes?

  • Develop a healthy eating and activity plan
  • Test your blood sugar and keep a record of the results
  • Recognize the signs of high or low blood sugar and what to do about it
  • If needed, give yourself insulin by syringe, pen, or pump
  • Monitor your feet, skin, and eyes to catch problems early
  • Buy diabetes supplies and store them properly

More items...

What does it mean to reverse type 2 diabetes?

Weight loss, whether achieved by lifestyle intervention, pharmacotherapy, or bariatric surgery, is highly effective as a primary interventional strategy in both the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

What is it like to live with Type 2 diabetes?

Is weight loss the future of type 2 diabetes treatment?

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What are 3 treatments for diabetes?

Diabetes treatmentsThere are a number of treatments available to help you manage and treat your diabetes. Everyone is different, so treatment will vary depending on your own individual needs. ... Insulin pumps. ... Islet cell transplant. ... Tablets and medication. ... Weight loss surgery. ... Diet and exercise. ... Insulin. ... Emotional support.

Can type 2 diabetes be treated?

Although there's no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it's possible for some people to reverse it. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication. This doesn't mean you're completely cured. Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease.

What is the fastest way to cure type 2 diabetes?

According to recent research, type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, but individuals can have glucose levels that return to non-diabetes range, (complete remission) or pre-diabetes glucose level (partial remission) The primary means by which people with type 2 diabetes achieve remission is by losing significant amounts of ...

How is type 2 diabetes treated controlled?

Insulin as a type 2 diabetes treatment Insulin injections lower blood glucose. Only some people with type 2 diabetes need insulin. It may be advised if your blood glucose level is not well controlled by tablets. The dose and type of insulin used varies from person to person.

What is the main cause of type 2 diabetes?

Although not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and an inactive lifestyle are two of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes. These things are responsible for about 90% to 95% of diabetes cases in the United States.

What is the treatment of diabetes?

Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump, frequent blood sugar checks, and carbohydrate counting. Treatment of type 2 diabetes primarily involves lifestyle changes, monitoring of your blood sugar, along with diabetes medications, insulin or both.

What is normal sugar level by age?

Normal Sugar Level By AgeAge RangeBlood Glucose Levels (mg/dl)0 to 5 years100 to 1806 to 9 years80 to 14010 years and more70 to 120May 22, 2022

Can walking cure diabetes?

Research studies have shown that walking can be beneficial in bringing down blood glucose and therefore improving diabetes control. In a study involving people with type 1 diabetes, participants were assigned to either take a 30 minute walk after eating or have the same meal but remain inactive.

What fruit should diabetics avoid?

Dried fruit, fruit juice, and certain tropical fruits, like mangoes, tend to contain more sugar. It may be a good idea to limit portions or eat these foods less often. Some canned fruit has added sugar or is packaged in syrup.

What foods should be avoided with type 2 diabetes?

Foods to avoid with type 2 diabeteshigh fat meat (fatty cuts of pork, beef, and lamb, poultry skin, dark meat chicken)full-fat dairy (whole milk, butter, cheese, sour cream)sweets (candy, cookies, baked goods, ice cream, desserts)sugar-sweetened beverages (juice, soda, sweet tea, sports drinks)More items...

Diabetes Treatment: Lowering Blood Sugar

Several classes of type 2 diabetes medicines exist. Each class of medicine works in different ways to lower blood sugar. A drug may work by: 1. Sti...

Compare Diabetes Medications

Here's an at-a-glance comparison of common diabetes medications. More medications are available depending on your needs and situation. Ask your doc...

How to Choose Your Diabetes Medication

No single diabetes treatment is best for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. Your doctor can determine how a specific...

How does diabetes medicine work?

Each class of medicine works in different ways to lower blood sugar. A drug may work by: Stimulating the pancreas to produce and release more insulin. Inhibiting the production and release of glucose from the liver.

Can you take a single medication for type 2 diabetes?

However, you may need medications to achieve target blood sugar (glucose) levels. Sometimes a single medication is effective. In other cases, a combination of medications works better. The list of medications for type 2 diabetes is long and potentially confusing.

Is diabetes a single treatment?

No single diabetes treatment is best for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. Your doctor can determine how a specific medication or multiple medications may fit into your overall diabetes treatment plan and help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of specific diabetes drugs. Oct. 24, 2020.

What is the first treatment for diabetes type 2?

Type 2 Diabetes Treatments and Medications. Medications are often the first kind of medicine people with type 2 diabetes try when diet and exercise alone aren't enough to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range. There are many of them, and they work in different ways. Biguanides.

What is the best medication to lower blood sugar after a meal?

Meglitinides and sulfonylureas. These medications tell your pancreas to make more insulin. DPP-4 inhibitors keep your body from breaking down hormones that give your pancreas the "go" signal for insulin. This means they work longer when you need to lower your blood sugar after a meal.

What is the best way to keep blood sugar from shooting up after eating?

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors slow the digestion of food with complex carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and corn. This keeps your blood sugar from shooting up after you eat. SGLT2 inhibitors work by letting your kidneys pee out extra sugar.

Why is insulin therapy important?

Insulin therapy could be a short-term fix for a stressful situation or because other medicines aren't enough to control their blood sugar. Types of insulin are grouped by how fast they start to work and how long their effects last. You might have to use more than one kind of insulin. Some insulins come pre-mixed.

What does a diabetic doctor check for?

The doctor will check for signs of retinopathy, nerve damage to your eye caused by diabetes. Regular foot exams. The doctor will check for foot problems and nerve damage to your feet. Your blood glucose number tells you how well your treatment is working.

How to lower your blood sugar?

From working out to doing chores, activity lower s your blood sugar. It helps your cells use insulin. It also helps your muscles use glucose. Make sure you check your blood sugar before and after exercise. Better sleep. Not getting enough sleep can raise your odds of getting type 2 diabetes in the first place.

Can bile acid sequestrants lower blood glucose?

Bile acid sequestrants lower your cholesterol and can also help lower your blood glucose. You can take these medications by themselves or in combination with others, including insulin. Some pills have more than one kind of drug. Dopamine receptor agonists work directly on the brain to help it process dopamine.

How to treat Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is usually initially treated by following a healthy diet, losing weight if you are overweight, and having regular physical activity. If lifestyle advice does not control your blood glucose levels then medicines are used to help lower these levels.

What is the name of the drug that reduces blood glucose levels?

Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin are sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. These increase the amount of glucose you pass out of your body in your urine and so reduce blood glucose levels. These medicines can be used on their own or with other medicines to help control blood glucose for people with type 2 diabetes.

What is a glitazone?

Pioglitazone. Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione (sometimes called a glitazone). Pioglitazone lowers blood glucose by increasing the sensitivity of your body's cells to insulin (so more glucose is taken into cells for the same amount of insulin in the bloodstream).

How does a syringe lower blood glucose?

It lowers blood glucose mainly by decreasing the amount of glucose that your liver releases into the bloodstream. It also increases the sensitivity of your body's cells to insulin. This means more glucose is taken into cells with the same amount of insulin in the bloodstream.

How does tolbutamide work?

Tolbutamide. They work by increasing the amount of insulin that your pancreas makes. (If you have type 2 diabetes, you still make insulin in your pancreas. However, you do not make enough to keep your blood glucose level normal.) If you are prescribed a sulfonylurea, usually a low dose is started.

How does acarbose help with glucose?

Acarbose. Acarbose works by delaying the absorption of carbohydrates (which are broken down into glucose) from the gut. Therefore, it can reduce the peaks of blood glucose which may occur after meals. It is an option if you are unable to use other tablets to keep your blood glucose level down.

What is the name of the medication that is given as an injection?

Exenatide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide , liraglutide and semaglutide are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetics which are treatments given as an injection. They work in a similar way to the action of the naturally occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide 1.

When to put on medication for type 2 diabetes?

You may be put onto medication as soon you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or sometime after if your blood glucose levels become too high. You can be moved onto stronger medication if your blood glucose levels remain too high, while you can also be moved onto less strong medication if your blood glucose levels improve. ...

What type of medication is needed for diabetes?

Medication for type 2 diabetes includes tablets and/or injectable medication.

What is the name of the drug that mimics the action of glucagon?

Incretin mimetics are medications which mimic the action of a hormone called glucagon-like-peptide-1. This hormone plays a number of roles in response to digestion such as increasing the amount of insulin released and decreasing the amount of glucagon (a hormone that helps raise blood sugar) released. A group of tablet medications, known as DPP-4 inhibitors, work in a similar way to incretin mimetics.

What is the most well known type of injectable medication for diabetes?

Insulin is the most well-known type of injectable medication for diabetes. Insulin is the hormone which helps to move sugar out of the blood and into cells to be used as energy or to be stored as fat.

Why do you need to monitor blood glucose levels?

If you are on insulin you may need to regularly test your blood glucose levels to help prevent blood glucose levels from going too low. Blood glucose monitoring is highly valued by some people with diabetes and has helped people achieve excellent control.

What is a GP responsible for?

Your GP will also be responsible for monitoring your health and ensuring you undergo a number of important diabetes health checks each year. These will include your blood glucose control, blood pressure and cholesterol, amongst others.

How does exercise help with glucose?

After the exercise, the body will start replenishing its stores of glucose by steadily taking in available glucose from the blood.

What is the treatment for Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes Treatments. In addition to lifestyle changes, patients who are newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are often prescribed an oral drug called metformin. “Metformin has been around a long time,” Gabbay says. “We tend to choose it because it lowers morbidity, helps control blood sugar and helps a little with weight loss.”.

How to manage Type 2 diabetes?

Along with diet, exercise and medication, there are other important steps for successfully managing Type 2 diabetes. Test A1C and blood glucose levels, as directed by your doctor. Control blood pressure and cholesterol, again with your doctor’s help. Stop smoking.

How long does it take for metformin to work?

You’ll probably start to see changes in your blood sugar level after a couple of weeks, although it could take longer. Your metformin dose will depend on how much the drug does (or doesn’t) affect your digestion and how well-controlled your diabetes is.

How many people with Type 2 diabetes use insulin?

Although the actual rate of insulin use among patients can vary, Greene estimates that about one-third of those with Type 2 diabetes use it. There are different types of insulin your doctor may prescribe. Some insulin is shorter-acting versus long-acting. Other insulin types are injected before you eat.

What are the side effects of a type 2 diabetes drug?

The side effects will vary based on the drug, but they can include digestive problems, an increased risk for heart failure or urinary tract infections. The different types, or classes, of Type 2 diabetes treatments include: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

What is the only medication you need for Type 2 diabetes?

If you're doing well with lifestyle changes, the only drug you may need for your Type 2 diabetes is metformin, Subang says. Your doctor will work with you on a target blood sugar level for your Type 2 diabetes while you use metformin.

Can insulin be used for diabetes?

Sometimes the oral medications for Type 2 diabetes aren’t enough to keep blood sugar under control. In that case, your doctor may add insulin to your treatment. Insulin is what people with Type 1 diabetes use to control their blood sugar.

How to lower blood sugar levels?

Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels. That’s a good thing, but you need to factor it into your treatment plan. Talk to your doctor about how much you move each day. You may need to change the dosage of some diabetes drugs if you're more active in your daily life or at work.

Does insulin help with diabetes?

When you and your doctor are thinking about the best way to control your blood sugar, you've got a lot of options to choose from. Insulin and other medicines, including shots and pills, can help keep your levels in a healthy range .

Does exercise lower blood sugar?

For example, medications called GLP-1 agonists help you feel fuller longer after you eat. This may help you lose extra pounds if you're overweight. Studies show that the drugs also help protect against heart disease and kidney disease. How active you are. Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels.

Does alcohol affect insulin?

Alcohol can lower your blood sugar levels for hours, so it affects how well insulin or diabetes pills work. Tell your doctor how much you drink and if you want to be able to sip a beer or cocktail from time to time. You may need to take extra steps to be sure that it doesn’t interfere with your meds. Fear of needles.

Can you take insulin if you have diabetes for 10 years?

If you’ve had the condition for more than 10 years, some diabetes pills may not help you. But if you’ve just been diagnosed, your doctor might not make insulin the first treatment you try. Also, your treatment plan may change over time, because some medications get less effective the longer you take them.

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Diagnosis

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Karthikeya T M
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
There are no medications that can cure Type 2 diabetes. Healthy diet and exercise are the first steps in controlling the blood sugar level. Medications are available to help manage the disease condition. Medications may work in different ways. A few may increase the production of insulin while others may improve insulin resistance.
Medication

Biguanide: Improves sensitivity of the body tissues to insulin.

Metformin


Sulphonylureas: Helps the body produce more insulin.

Glibenclamide . Gliclazide . Glipizide . Glimepiride . Tolbutamide


Alpha glucosidase inhibitor: Delay the absorption of carbohydrates.

Acarbose


Thiazolidinediones: Increases sensitivity to insulin. Since this is associated with many side effects, it is prescribed only if it is necessary.

Rosiglitazone . Pioglitazone


DPP-4 inhibitors: Helps reduce blood sugar levels, without much of side effects.

Sitagliptin . Saxagliptin . Linagliptin


SGLT2 inhibitors: Prevent kidneys from absorbing excess glucose. Excess sugar is excreted in urine. This might include side effects of repeated urinary infections, increased urination.

Canagliflozin . Dapagliflozin


Insulin injection: This helps manage the sugar level efficiently, usually, prescribed for long standing or very high sugar levels. There are many types of Insulin.

Insulin glulisine . Insulin lispro . Insulin aspart . Insulin glargine . Insulin detemir . Insulin isophane

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Healthy carbohydrate foods
  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Legumes, such as beans
  • Whole grains
  • Omega- 3 fatty acid rich foods
  • Tuna
  • Sardines
  • Salmon
  • Mackerel
  • Halibut
  • Cod
  • Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated foods
  • Olive oil
  • Canola oil
  • Peanut oil
  • Almonds
  • Pecans
  • Walnuts
  • Avocados

Foods to avoid:

  • Foods heavy in saturated fats
  • Foods heavy in trans fats
  • Beef
  • Processed meats
  • Sugary drinks
  • High-fat dairy products
  • Salty foods
  • Fried foods

Stop smoking: Smoking increases the level of blood sugar level.

Specialist to consult

Endocrinologist
Specializes in the function and disorders of the endocrine system of the body.

Coping and Support

  • Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed using the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Results are interpreted as follows: 1. Below 5.7% is normal. 2. 5.7% to 6.4% is diagnosed as prediabetes. 3. 6.5% or high…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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