Diabetes is a condition in which glucose accumulates in the blood as a result of insufficient insulin production or an impaired response to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels; patients with type I diabetes do not produce insulin, whereas those with type II simply do not produce enough or use what they produce effectivel. Although diabetes can be managed using dietary modifications, a number of non-nutritional treatment options are also used.
Insulin
One treatment for diabetes is the use of insulin, according to the information website of the "Journal of the American Medical Association." Insulin has to be injected because it is a protein and will be broken down by the digestive system before it can be absorbed. Insulin injections are necessary for patients with type I diabetes because they are no longer able to make this hormone. Insulin treatment may also be necessary for patients with type II diabetes, depending on the severity of the disease. Insulin can be injected in carefully measured boluses, but it can also be continuously infused into a patient's bloodstream using a special pump. Insulin pumps help prevent sudden dips in a patient's blood sugar, which can lead to hypoglycemia.
Insulin-Stimulating Medications
Patients with type II diabetes are still able to make some insulin, so they can be treated with medications that stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin. Sulfonylureas, the American Diabetes Association explains, are one type of medication that works in this way. Commonly prescribed sulfonylureas include glyburide and glimepiride. Sulfonylureas help increase the amount of naturally produced insulin in the body, which helps correct the insulin deficiency that is caused by type II diabetes. These medications can be taken orally each day to help control a diabetic's blood sugar. Another type of medication that stimulates insulin production are meglitinides, which include nateglinide and repaglinide.
Glucose-Production Blockers
Other treatments for diabetes work by lowering glucose production. Metformin, the Mayo Clinic explains, works by inhibiting the production of glucose by the liver. Metformin also increases the response of muscle and fat cells to insulin, which also helps reduce blood glucose levels. Another type of medication, called thiazolidinediones, has a similar mechanism of action. Acarbose and meglitol, according to the American Diabetes Association, can also be used to block the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugar, which can aid in diabetes control.
