Treatment FAQ

what are the treatment for type 2 diabetes

by Ms. Rosanna Torp Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

Oct 24, 2020 · Diabetes treatment: Medications for type 2 diabetes. Healthy lifestyle choices — including diet, exercise and weight control — provide the foundation for managing type 2 diabetes. However, you may need medications to achieve target blood sugar (glucose) levels. Sometimes a single medication is effective.

Nutrition

Results: High caloric intake and lack of exercise are the main contributing causes of type 2 diabetes and the principal targets of intervention. If lifestyle changes do not yield adequate improvement, then drug treatment should be initiated (or intensified) and managed on the basis of the HbA1c fraction. Guidelines recommend an HbA1c target range of 6.5% to 7.5%; the …

What are home remedies for type 2 diabetes?

Dec 15, 2018 · Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33). UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group.

What does it mean to reverse type 2 diabetes?

Dec 07, 2021 · The different types, or classes, of Type 2 diabetes treatments include: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Biguanides. Bile acid sequestrants. Dopamine-2 agonists. DPP-4 inhibitors. Meglitinides. SGLT2...

What is it like to live with Type 2 diabetes?

Nov 05, 2020 · Metformin is a tried and tested medicine that has been used for many decades to treat type 2 diabetes, and is recommended by most experts as first-line therapy. It is affordable, safe, effective, and well tolerated by most people. When metformin does not adequately control blood sugar, another medication must be added.

Is weight loss the future of type 2 diabetes treatment?

Jan 15, 2019 · Type 2 diabetes can be treated by a number of different methods, ranging from lifestyle adjustments to tablet medication and injections, through to bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Lifestyle changes are advised for everyone with type 2 diabetes; your doctor will recommend treatment alongside these changes if your blood glucose levels are too high.

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Managing your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and quitting smoking if you smoke, are important ways to manage your type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes that include planning healthy meals, limiting calories if you are overweight, and being physically active are also part of managing your diabetes.

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What is best treatment for type 2 diabetes?

Metformin is a tried and tested medicine that has been used for many decades to treat type 2 diabetes, and is recommended by most experts as first-line therapy. It is affordable, safe, effective, and well tolerated by most people. When metformin does not adequately control blood sugar, another medication must be added.Nov 5, 2020

What is the fastest way to cure type 2 diabetes?

A very small study found therapeutic fasting -- going without food and drink with calories for a set amount of time -- can help reverse type 2 diabetes. Three people with diabetes followed a diet program of three 24-hour fasts each week for several months.Dec 6, 2020

What causes diabetes type 2?

Type 2 diabetes is primarily the result of two interrelated problems: Cells in muscle, fat and the liver become resistant to insulin. Because these cells don't interact in a normal way with insulin, they don't take in enough sugar.Jan 20, 2021

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.

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...

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:

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 doctor about your options and the pros and cons of each.

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 medication or multiple medications may fit into your overall diabetes treatment plan and help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of specific diabetes drugs.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 DM (formerly known as NIDDM) is a common metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, relative impairment in insulin secretion, and certain degree of genetic predisposition, the prevalence of which markedly ris es with the degree of obesity[1].

What is DM type 2?

The majority of patients, however, belong to the group with insulin resistance as the core pathophysiological disorder rather than insulin deficiency [1], classified as type 2 DM. This type of DM is phenotypically often accompanied by central obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia.

What is diabetes mellitus?

INTRODUCTION. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is chronic, lifelong progressive metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycaemia due to absolute or relative insulinopaenia. There are several different types of DM and each are caused by a complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors.

How many people have diabetes in 2017?

It is estimated that in 2017, there were 451 million people (ages 18-99 years) with diabetes worldwide[2], and this number is expected to rise, mostly due to type 2 DM.

Does type 2 diabetes cause insulin resistance?

Indeed, it is now well known that type 2 DM usually presents with var ying degrees of insulin resistance, consequent relative insulin deficiency, and hyperglycaemia which further impair pancreatic β-cell function, resulting in a vicious cycle of metabolic state worsening[23].

What is metabolic dysregulation?

The metabolic dysregulation that contributes to hyperglycaemia includes diminished insulin secretion, impaired glucose utilization or increased glucose production, and eventually causes pathophysiological changes in multiple organs and organ systems[1].

When was Liraglutide approved?

A second GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, was approved in 2010. Soon after, i.e., over the last 8 years, the market of GLP-1 analogues has grown exponentially, starting with the once-weekly form of exenatide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide and albiglutide, to lately with semaglutide[74].

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.

What type of diabetes is insulin?

Insulin is what people with Type 1 diabetes use to control their blood sugar. 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.

Is diabetes a cause of kidney failure?

Among U.S. adults, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and new blindness cases, the USPSTF notes. “Screening asymptomatic adults for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes may allow earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes,” guideline authors say.

Can you take metformin with Type 2 diabetes?

Your doctor will work with you on a target blood sugar level for your Type 2 diabetes while you use metformin. If you have other health complications related to diabetes and a hard time controlling your blood sugar, you may need to take other diabetes medicines as well.

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.

What are the risk factors for diabetes?

Other risk factors, such as being overweight or having obesity, can be altered. This is why losing 5% to 10% of one’s baseline weight by healthful eating and physical activity remains the backbone of type 2 diabetes management.

What is SGLT2 inhibitor?

SGLT2 inhibitors like empagliflozin (Jardiance), canagliflozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), and ertugliflozin (Steglatro) are also a newer class of medications that work by blocking your kidneys from reabsorbing sugar back into your body.

What hormone is produced by the body?

Our bodies produce a hormone called insulin which enables sugar from carbohydrates in food we eat to reach the cells and be used as energy. In type 2 diabetes, insulin’s ability to do its job is compromised, and over time the body actually produces less of it.

How many people in the US have diabetes?

One in 10 people in the US has diabetes, according to the CDC. However, despite considerable progress in diabetes treatment over the past 20 years, fewer than half of those with diabetes actually reach their target blood sugar goal. In part, this may be because doctors can be slow to make changes to a patient’s treatment plan, ...

What happens if you have high blood sugar?

Having high levels of blood sugar over time can cause damage to vital organs like the heart, kidneys, nerves, and eyes. Some risk factors that predispose people to developing type 2 diabetes, such as genetics and age, are not modifiable.

Does metformin lower A1C?

In general, for people who are at low risk of heart disease or have no history of diabetic kidney disease, most diabetes medications that are added to metformin effectively reduce blood sugars and can lower A1C to under 7%.

Can SGLT2 cause ketoacidosis?

A rare but serious consequence of SGLT2 inhibitors is diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency that can be avoided by stopping these medications in consultation with your doctor before major surgeries, or if you are ill or fasting.

When does Type 2 diabetes start?

Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over age 45, but more and more children, teens, and young adults are also developing it.

Who manages diabetes?

Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly by you, with support from your health care team (including your primary care doctor, foot doctor, dentist, eye doctor, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator, and pharmacist), family, and other important people in your life. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but everything you do to improve your health is worth it!

How does diabetes affect children?

Childhood obesity rates are rising, and so are the rates of type 2 diabetes in youth. More than 75% of children with type 2 diabetes have a close relative who has it, too. But it’s not always because family members are related; it can also be because they share certain habits that can increase their risk. Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family: 1 Drinking more water and fewer sugary drinks 2 Eating more fruits and vegetables 3 Making favorite foods healthier 4 Making physical activity more fun

How to check blood sugar?

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.

How can parents help prevent diabetes?

Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family: Drinking more water and fewer sugary drinks. Eating more fruits and vegetables. Making favorite foods healthier. Making physical activity more fun.

Can high blood sugar cause kidney disease?

Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

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.

What are the different types of insulin?

There are now a number of different injectable medications available for treating diabetes. These fall into two main groups: 1 Insulin 2 Incretin mimetics

Why is it important to keep blood sugar levels under control?

Keeping blood sugar levels under control is important as high sugar levels have been shown to significantly increase the risk of health problems (complications) developing later in life . Type 2 diabetes can be treated by a number of different methods, ranging from lifestyle adjustments to tablet medication and injections, ...

What is a GP?

Your GP is an important part of your healthcare and will be able to advise you treating your diabetes, refer you to diabetes education and lifestyle courses and medical specialists, where appropriate, and prescribe medication.

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.

Does diabetes medication help with weight loss?

The main role of diabetes medication is to help lower blood glucose levels, although more recently developed medications can also aid weight loss. Each form of medication has side effects and it is important to be aware of which side effects can occur from any medication you are taking. Known side effects will be detailed in ...

How to reduce risk of diabetes type 2?

Here are some things you can do to lower your risk: Lose weight if you are overweight, and keep it off.

How to manage diabetes?

Lifestyle changes that include planning healthy meals, limiting calories if you are overweight, and being physically active are also part of managing your diabetes. So is taking any prescribed medicines. Work with your health care team to create a diabetes care plan that works for you.

What is the most common type of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes mainly from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy.

How old do you have to be to get Type 2 diabetes?

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight or obese. Diabetes is more common in people who are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. Physical inactivity and certain health problems such as high blood pressure ...

What hormone is used to make glucose?

Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Too much glucose then stays in your blood, and not enough reaches your cells. The good news is that you can take steps to prevent or delay the development ...

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

feeling tired. blurred vision. numbness or tingling in the feet or hands. sores that do not heal. unexplained weight loss. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them. Many people have no symptoms.

Can type 2 diabetes cause fatty liver disease?

sexual and bladder problems. Many people with type 2 diabetes also have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD). Losing weight if you are overweight or obese can improve NAFLD. Diabetes is also linked to other health problems such as sleep apnea, depression, some types of cancer, and dementia. NIH external link.

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Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Alternative Medicine

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

  • Management of type 2 diabetes includes: 1. Healthy eating 2. Regular exercise 3. Weight loss 4. Possibly, diabetes medication or insulin therapy 5. Blood sugar monitoring These steps will help keep your blood sugar level closer to normal, which can delay or prevent complications.
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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