|
|
|
| Treatment & Prevention > Type 2 Diabetes |
|
Know Your ABCs of Diabetes...Please!
Patients with diabetes are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. To address this issue, a variety of scientific organizations have published guidelines for A1C, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. The so-called ABCs of diabetes were supposed to provide physicians and patients alike with a helpful mnemonic that would facilitate memory of and adherence to recommended guidelines. However, knowledge of these guidelines remains much lower than desirable. |
Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
Treatment and prevention of Type 2 diabetes includes lifestyle changes (medical nutrition therapy and increased physical activity), pharmacologic therapy (oral and injectable medications including sulfonylureas, meglitinides, biguanides, thiazolidinediones [TZDs], alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, combination oral therapy and insulin, respectively). The pharmacology, initiation and adjustment of insulin dosing are also important considerations. |
Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
The prevalence of diabetes continues to rise as the rates of obesity and sedentary behavior increase. Diabetes is known to have a long preclinical phase of approximately 10-12 years, during which metabolic changes may already be causing microvascular and macrovascular complications. Accordingly, recent research has focused on the prevention and/or delay of Type 2 diabetes. Prevention efforts generally fall into two categories: lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy. Current emphasis is on lifestyle interventions since they have proven to be more effective than medications, do not cause any unwanted side effects, and confer additional benefits over and above the prevention or delay of Type 2 diabetes, such as weight reduction and reduction of cardiovascular risk. |
Insulin Therapy
The goal of insulin replacement therapy in people with diabetes is to mimic normal pancreatic function as closely as possible. Because of the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic β cells that occurs in type 1 diabetes, exogeneous insulin replacement is necessary from the time of diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistance and a relative insulin deficiency that progresses over time, making it more challenging to determine when and how insulin therapy should be initiated. This article will focus on insulin types, options for insulin delivery, insulin therapy, and insulin self-administration in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. |
|
|
