How Can Diabetes Mellitus be Treated?

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder where our body cannot produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot respond to insulin (type 2 diabetes), thereby causing abnormally high levels of blood sugar in our body. Doctors use the term diabetes mellitus to differentiate it from diabetes insipidus, an entirely different disorder. 

Diabetes is an illness that can cause life-threatening complications if not diagnosed and treated on time. The treatment of diabetes mellitus includes a healthy diet, exercise, awareness, weight loss, medication, and insulin dosage.

Diabetes mellitus symptoms

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes exhibit the following symptoms:

•       Frequent urination
•       Severe thirst
•       Pale and colourless urine
•       Weakness
•       Extreme thirst
•       Muscle pains
•       crankiness

Diabetes mellitus diagnosis

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are diagnosed through:

• Glycated haemoglobin (A1C) test: This blood test is done without fasting. It measures our sugar levels for the past 2-3 months. If our A1C level is 6.5 or more, we have diabetes.
• Random blood sugar test: This test is done at any time of the day without considering when we last ate. If our random blood sugar test level is more than 200 mg/dl, it indicates diabetes mellitus.
• Fasting blood sugar test: This test is done after overnight fasting. If our fasting blood sugar result is more than 125 mg/dl, we are diabetic.
• Oral glucose tolerance test: In this test, our blood sugar is tested after fasting overnight. Then we are given a sugary drink, and blood sugar is tested after two hours. If the test results are more than 200 mg/dl after two hours, we are diabetic.

Diabetes mellitus treatment

Diabetes mellitus treatment depends on the type of diabetes you have. Blood sugar monitoring, oral medicines, and insulin play a significant role in managing diabetes mellitus. A healthy diet, exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight are also crucial in managing diabetes. The treatment of diabetes mellitus also includes the following:

• Healthy eating: A balanced diet is the first step toward managing diabetes mellitus. We have to cut down on refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sweets. We should consume foods high in fibre and nutrition like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. We may find it difficult to understand how much to eat and what to eat o our own. A professional dietician can help create a meal plan that helps in diabetes mellitus treatment.
• Exercise: Not only diabetic patients but every person requires some physical activity to stay fit. Physical activity helps lower sugar levels by transferring sugar into the cells and using it as energy. The advantage of exercise is it increases insulin sensitivity, so the body requires less insulin to carry sugar to the cells. A doctor should be consulted before starting any exercise, be it swimming, walking or biking. We should exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. We should also not sit in one place for a long time; a sedentary lifestyle is a big cause of diabetes mellitus. 
• Monitoring blood sugar: A priority of diabetes mellitus treatment is regularly monitoring our blood glucose levels. Awareness and education are important in the treatment of diabetes. With proper monitoring, we learn how our blood sugar reacts to certain foods, medicines, illnesses, and physical activity. We should regularly conduct A1C tests, random blood sugar tests, and fasting blood sugar tests to check the sugar levels.
• Insulin: the treatment of type 1 diabetes requires insulin. Sometimes type 2 and gestational diabetes also requires insulin therapy. Several types of insulin are available in the market, such as short-acting, long-acting, rapid-acting, and intermediate. A doctor will decide on the type of insulin we require depending upon our needs. Insulin is injected into our body for better absorption by the body.
• Oral medicines: Oral diabetic medicines are also prescribed for diabetes mellitus treatment. Certain medicines aid the pancreas in releasing insulin, and other medicines prohibit the liver from releasing glucose. Metformin is a medicine that is prescribed in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
• Transplantation: Sometimes, people with type 1 diabetes might require pancreas transplantation. If the transplantation is successful, we might not even need insulin therapy. However, transplants can sometimes be risky. Therefore, doctors do not usually prefer it unless the diabetes can no longer be controlled or when the kidneys are damaged.
• Bariatric Surgery: Bariatric surgery is not a direct diabetes mellitus treatment. But diabetes type 2 patients who are also obese might benefit from such a surgery.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a serious condition that can be life-threatening if not managed properly and on time. Diabetes can lead to many other complications such as heart diseases, kidney diseases, severe infections, or even amputations due to unhealed and festering wounds. Lifestyle modifications, regular monitoring, and proper medication can prevent such complications and help diabetic patients lead a quality life.