Diabetic Seniors

Many treatments exist for diabetes (which also is known as diabetes mellitus). Some treatments, though, are more popular than others. Which of those treatments for diabetes you use depends on whether you have diabetes type 1 or diabetes type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin is the diabetes mellitus treatment of choice for people with type 1 diabetes. Insulin has three characteristics:

• Onset — How long it takes the insulin to reach the blood stream and start to work after being injected
• Peaktime — How long the insulin works at maximum strength to lower blood sugar
• Duration — How long the insulin continues to lower blood sugar after peaktime

Four different kinds of insulin are available as treatments for diabetes. What insulin the doctor chooses to use depends upon which particular set of characteristics he or she thinks is most appropriate for the patient’s diabetes:

Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin is not a popular choice in treating type 2 diabetes. Instead, non-medical remedies are the most popular treatments for diabetes. These remedies are:

• Following a healthy diet
• Getting regular exercise
• Losing weight

Following a Healthy Diet

Of the three treatments for diabetes, following a healthy diet provides the most flexibility. The Diabetic Food Pyramid provides you with guidelines for healthy eating. Once you learn the characteristics of the three food groups — carbohydrates, proteins and fats — you can prepare a variety of delicious meals; you can cook wonderful gourmet meals as well. By reducing portions and substituting one food for another, such as whole wheat bread for white bread, you still can have some of your favorite meals. The flexibility you have in foods shows that diabetes mellitus treatment doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Once they start eating healthy foods, many diabetics wouldn’t go back to their old lifestyle of fast foods and sodas even if they were given the opportunity. (Diet is important in type 1 diabetes mellitus treatment, too.)

Getting Regular Exercise

Being a couch potato leads to weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar — and type 2 diabetes. Of all the treatments for diabetes, getting into the habit of getting regular exercise is one of the most important. Exercise burns glucose, which reduces blood sugar. Exercise also reduces insulin resistance, allowing your cells to take in more blood sugar. In addition, regular exercise helps reduce weight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Although the exercise should be mildly aerobic, no one particular form is better than another. You can walk briskly, jog, run, walk up and down stairs, or perform physical labor — just as long as you do it for 30 minutes a day. Of all the popular treatments for diabetes, regular exercise provides a whole package of benefits. (Regular exercise is important in type 1 diabetes mellitus treatment, too.)

Losing Weight

Researchers believe that obesity is perhaps the most important cause of type 2 diabetes. Why? Because studies indicate that the fatter you are, the more resistant your body becomes to insulin. When you lose weight, though, your body becomes less resistant to insulin. One of the easiest treatments for diabetes, then, is to lose weight. You can reduce your weight through a combination of diet and exercise—doing so is well worth the effort.

Tags: diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus treatment, Insulin, prevent diabetes, preventing diabetes, treatments for diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes