Diabetes treatments

Q: Someone in my family recently was diagnosed with diabetes. I am wondering what sort of treatment options might be available to her?

A: Diabetes is a disease in which your family member’s body is not able to properly control the amount of sugar in her blood. The disease has occurred because her body either is not able to produce a proper amount of insulin or because her body does not properly use the insulin that is produced.

There are a number of different treatment options available to your family member who has been diagnosed with diabetes. In reality, in many instances, a number of different treatment options are used together to treat diabetes.

When it comes to managing diabetes, both diet and exercise will be very important to your family member. Indeed, diet and exercise need to be at the foundation of any diabetes management program.

In addition to diet and exercise, a significant number of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes are prescribed medication. Medication is an important element of diabetes management for many people in today’s world.

When it comes to medications that are commonly used in the management of diabetes, this medication comes in two forms. For people who do not necessarily have an extremely acute diabetic condition, oral medications normally are recommended. On the other hand, in some instances a person will be prescribed medications that are taken by injection for their more serious diabetic condition. (Medications taken by injection are normally faster acting.)

As has been mentioned, while medication can form a very important part of diabetes management and treatment, it is vital that your family member take her medication as directed. Of course, when a prescription is given to a person, she is always told to take as directed. But, with diabetes prescriptions, using the medications as scheduled and consistently is extremely important. Failing to take diabetic medications as scheduled and on a regular basis can cause blood glucose levels to be erratic.

If your family member who recently has been diagnosed with diabetes is a younger person or a child and has been prescribed medication, it will be very important for an adult to monitor her utilization of her meds. Children naturally have a tendency to want to avoid taking their medications. In some instances, missing a dose or two or a medication here and there will have no effect. However, with diabetic medications, missing even one scheduled dose can have absolutely serious consequences.

Along with taking medications, it will be very important for your family member to monitor her blood glucose levels regularly. Her doctor should have instructed her as to when to monitor her blood glucose levels in relation to the taking of her medication.

Of course, if your family member has any questions or concerns about the medication she has been prescribed for her diabetes, she should consult with her doctor as soon as possible.

Diet, exercise and medications are the combination that can keep diabetes controlled.

(David Khorram, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist, and director of Marianas Eye Institute. Questions and comments are welcome. Call 235-9090 or email eye@vzpacifica.net. Copyright © 2005 David Khorram.)