Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. It can happen when your body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin it produces isn't effective. Or, when your body can't produce any insulin at all.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, that acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat pass from the blood stream into the cells in the body to produce energy. All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells.
Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised glucose levels in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia). Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues.
Diabetes Treatments
People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a number of serious health problems. Consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and teeth. In addition, people with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing infections. In almost all high-income countries, diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputation.
There 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. At VitaNova we make sure you receive the best and most unique treatment according to your medical needs.
Patients who have type 1 diabetes, will need to use insulin to treat diabetes. Insulin is taken by injection or by using a pump.
Patients who have Type 2 diabetes may have to use insulin or tablets, to initially treat diabetes by eating well and exercising more.
Treatments for people with Type 1 diabetes
Insulin pumps
Using an insulin pump can be a good alternative to injecting with an insulin pen. It can give more flexibility when managing diabetes.
Islet cell transplant
Patients with Type 1 diabetes may be able to get an islet cell transplant. This could stop the experience of severe hypos.
Treatments for people with Type 2 diabetes
Tablets and medication
Patients with type 2 diabetes may need medication to help manage blood sugar levels. The most common tablet is metformin, but there are many different types on the market.
Weight loss surgery
There are several obesity surgery procedures to the stomach or intestine that can help you lose weight. There have been lots of studies that have found that this can help to put Type 2 diabetes into remission.
Diet and exercise
Lots of people with Type 2 diabetes don’t take any medication, and they instead treat their diabetes by eating well and moving more.
Insulin
Patients with type 2 diabetes may not need to use insulin straight away – even though some people have very high blood sugar levels when they are first diagnosed. Insulin can be used as a short-term treatment to help quickly bring down blood sugar levels.
Some people may need to take insulin for a particular reason, like during pregnancy, a severe illness, or after surgery. But you may also need to start insulin as a treatment if other medications haven’t helped managed your blood sugar levels or aren’t appropriate for you.
Many people with type 2 diabetes need to use insulin as treatment at some point. If you need to start insulin treatment, remember that this isn’t your fault.
Emotional support
Diabetes doesn't just affect a person physically, it can affect their emotional equilibrium, too.
Whether a person has been diagnosed or lived with diabetes for a long time, they may need emotional support for stress, feeling low and depressed, or simply burnt out.
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