Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that is experienced for life and causes your blood glucose level to become too high. The two main types of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2, with Type 2 being the most common type.
If you have Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas reduces the amount of insulin it produces until it stops producing it completely. In Type 2 diabetes the pancreas either doesn’t produce enough insulin or your body’s cells don’t react to insulin. If you have Type 1 you will need regular insulin injections, whereas Type 2 diabetes can be treated with lifestyle improvements and medication to regulate glucose levels.
Diabetes Treatments
How do diabetes treatments work?
Many people manage their diabetes with regular blood glucose (sugar) testing, which helps to ensure that blood sugar levels are kept within a healthy range and can help you to make lifestyle choices that will keep these levels stable.
If your blood sugar levels are consistently too high it can cause serious health conditions down the line, including strokes, kidney problems, and nerve damage, so managing diabetes effectively is essential.
You can test your blood glucose levels at home with testing kits like those from Contour, Accu Chek, and the Freestyle Libre range.
Another common treatment option for those with diabetes is insulin injections, which are usually used in those who have Type 1 diabetes and provide the insulin that their body isn't producing.
If you have Type 2 diabetes, you may be prescribed tablets like metformin to help reduce your blood sugar levels and helps your body respond better to the insulin it creates.
