Treatment Options for Diabetes
There is always a
significant amount of research going on in the field of diabetes. Scientists
are always looking for a cure or better treatment, developing new drugs and
equipment, and performing experiments with stem cells and other methods. New
treatment options are becoming available all the time.
As a diabetic, keeping your blood sugar levels steady is key. Once you have
that under control, many diabetics like to search out alternative treatments.
In conjunction with your physician’s knowledge, you may find your health is
enhanced by one or more alternative treatments.
Let’s take a look at some of the treatment options available for diabetics.
Insulin
Those with Type I diabetes will need to take insulin. This can be done in the
form of a shot, which the diabetic gives him or herself (except for small
children, whose parents could give the daily shots). Another option is an
insulin pump, which is outside the body but attached by a small tube. The
diabetic enters what he or she eats into the pump, and the pump produces the
necessary insulin.
For Type II diabetics, insulin may or may not be necessary. If it is, there are
some different options for these diabetics. Inhaled or even oral insulin may be
prescribed, or traditional shots or “pens.”
Medications
In addition to insulin, some diabetics take various medications. Some
medications, like Metformin, work by decreasing the glucose that the liver
produces, which aids in the body’s response to insulin. Others, such as
Glipizide and Glimepiride, increase the pancreas’s own insulin. This, of
course, lowers blood sugar; but presumably it would only be effective if the
pancreas still worked somewhat.
Some newer medications are called DPP-4 inhibitors. These affect the pancreas
both by stimulating the secretion of insulin and by reducing the secretion of a
hormone called glucagon. Glucagon raises blood sugar.
Alternatives
Some natural substances have been considered for their ability to lower or stabilize
blood sugar. Chromium, a mineral that occurs naturally in whole sugar cane, may
be low in people with Type II diabetes. Chromium is said to stabilize blood
sugar. Other minerals, herbs, and foods that are said to help with blood sugar
are:
- Stevia
- Magnesium (diabetics are often found to be deficient in this mineral)
- Essential fatty acids
- Cinnamon
- Ginseng
Acupuncture has also been explored as an alternative treatment for diabetes.
Diet and exercise are important for all diabetics, but these essentials are
usually considered “alternative treatments,” probably because they do
not directly involve drugs or conventional therapy. But exercise and diet are
important for keeping blood sugar regulated and maintaining a healthy body
weight.
