Methods for Treating Diabetes
Disease description:
Hello, a relative of mine was recently diagnosed with diabetes during a health check-up. Could you please tell me what are the treatment methods for diabetes?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The treatment of diabetes mainly focuses on controlling blood glucose levels, and the main approaches include the following aspects:
1. Lifestyle modifications: Balanced diet, or dietary control, in which patients should manage their total caloric intake, consume more foods rich in dietary fiber, and avoid high-sugar and high-fat foods; regular and appropriate physical activity can help reduce body weight and improve insulin sensitivity, thereby aiding in blood glucose control.
2. Pharmacological therapy: When lifestyle interventions are insufficient, drug treatment should be considered. Medication selection should be based on the individual patient's condition. Oral hypoglycemic agents can help control blood glucose, while insulin therapy is suitable for patients with type 1 diabetes and some patients with type 2 diabetes.
4. Blood glucose monitoring: During treatment, patients should regularly monitor their blood glucose levels and check their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to evaluate long-term glucose control, allowing timely adjustment of treatment plans and prevention of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
5. Other considerations: Smoking cessation and limited alcohol consumption to maintain a healthy body weight. For patients at risk of complications, blood pressure and lipid management should also be emphasized, with the use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications when necessary.
