Not all diabetes or diabetes should be treated with drugs. At the beginning of treatment, the doctor will first advise patient for regulate diet and adopt a healthy lifestyle, so that blood sugar level can be controlled. So when do drugs need to be used?
First of all, we must first distinguish the type of diabetes. Diabetes or diabetes is divided into two types, namely type 1 diabetes (DMT1) which usually appears at a young age and type 2 diabetes (DMT2) which usually appears in adulthood.
The main goal of diabetes management is to control blood sugar levels, either by adjusting your diet, making lifestyle changes, or giving diabetes medication. If blood sugar levels are not controlled, complications can arise in various organs of the body, such as the heart, kidneys, brain, and eyes.
Overcoming Diabetes with Drugs
The timing of giving drugs to treat diabetes can vary for each diabetic, depending on the condition of the disease and the general health of the patient.
In type 1 diabetes, doctors will usually immediately provide treatment with drugs. This is because people with type 1 diabetes cannot produce the hormone insulin in sufficient quantities, so they need to be given insulin from outside. Treatment for this condition is generally in the form of insulin injections.
Whereas in type 2 diabetes, patients can produce insulin in sufficient quantities, but their body cells are not sensitive to the hormone. This condition usually arises from poor eating habits, infrequent exercise, and being overweight.
So, in type 2 diabetes, if the sufferer has controlled blood sugar levels and the hemoglobin HbA1c level is below 7.5%, the doctor may only recommend diet and exercise adjustments, and weight loss.
However, if a person with diabetes has high blood sugar and hemoglobin HbA1c levels, the doctor will give diabetes medication, either oral medication or injection medication, to control blood sugar levels and prevent complications.
Implementing a Healthy Lifestyle
Treatment of diabetes is individual, because each patient has a different condition and severity of the disease. The success or failure of diabetes treatment depends on your adherence to treatment, as well as your diet and lifestyle.
Even though you are already using medication, it is still necessary to adjust your diet and change your behavior so that the results of the treatment are more optimal. You need to balance the use of diabetes medication with the consumption of a nutritionally balanced diet, setting portions and types of food, and exercising regularly.
In addition, you also have to maintain an ideal body weight if you suffer from diabetes. That way, sugar levels in your blood can be more easily controlled and your risk for complications will also be lower.
No less important, do regular check-ups with the doctor during treatment. If necessary, check your blood sugar levels independently at home, as recommended by your doctor. If you experience complaints that point to complications of diabetes, such as tingling, blurry vision, or sores that are difficult to heal, consult a doctor immediately.
written oleh:
dr. Ida Bagus Aditya Nugraha, SpPD(Internal Medicine Specialist)
