Also known as adult-onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s ability to produce enough insulin or causes the body to resist insulin. Type 2 diabetes results in too much sugar circulating in the blood, leading to disorders that affect the nervous, circulatory, or immune systems.
Type 2 diabetes patients use insulin injections to manage blood sugar levels. However, other patients can manage and reverse type 2 diabetes without insulin or other medication. This will depend on the patient’s health history and the doctor’s recommendations. Here are some vital things you need to do to manage type 2diabetes without insulin.
A Healthy Lifestyle Is Important
Patients with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose levels with key lifestyle changes. Even with medication, you will still need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you want to manage your blood sugar levels, you can try to implement some of the following steps in your daily life:
- Get at least 30 minutes daily, 4 to 5 days a week.
- Eat a balanced diet
- Have at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities every week
- Make sure you get enough sleep
Your doctor will encourage you to lose weight if your current weight does not match your height. Your dietician can also help you develop an effective and safe method to lose weight. Patients are also advised to avoid tobacco; if they smoke, their doctor will offer resources to help them lose weight.
Weight Loss Surgery Is An Option
If your BMI (Body Mass Index) meets obesity criteria, your doctor might recommend weight loss surgery to help manage type 2 diabetes. The surgery known as bariatric surgery or metabolic surgery will help improve your blood sugar levels and help lower type 2 diabetes complications.
According to many diabetes associations, doctors recommend weight loss surgery to type 2 diabetes patients with a BMI of 40 and higher. They also recommend the surgery to patients who have unsuccessfully tried other methods to lose weight and failed. Your doctor will help you choose the best weight surgery for you.
Other Medication Available
Other than lifestyle changes, your doctor can also prescribe other medications other than insulin to help manage type 2 diabetes. There are various classes of oral medications that can help you treat type 2 diabetes. They include:
- Biguanides
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Bile acid sequestrants
- DPP-4 inhibitors
- Dopamine-2 agonists
- Sulfonylureas
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- TZDs
In other cases, you might need a combination of different medications based on the extent of your condition. Your doctor will have you try different regimens to help you know which one works for you.
Your doctor can also prescribe another injectable medicine that is not insulin. These medications include amylin analogs, and GLP-1 receptor agonists must be injected. These medicines help maintain your blood sugar levels within normal ranges, especially after meals.
Depending on the type of injectable prescribed, you might need to inject weekly or daily. Your doctor will direct you on how to inject the medicine and how often you should inject it. They will help you learn how to inject medicine safely and how to dispose of used needles.
Your Treatment May Have Side Effects
Different surgeries, medications, and other treatments might cause side effects. It is important to note that the side effects vary from one treatment to another and from one person to another. Before you take any medication, ask your doctor about the potential side effects, benefits, and risks of using the medication.
It is also important to inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breast since some medications can affect your child. Surgery, on the other hand, comes with the risk of infection at the incision site. It is important to talk to your doctor about the post-recovery process and the steps you can take to reduce the risk of post-surgery complications.
There are many treatments available for type 2 diabetes. If you have any treatment plan questions, contact your personal healthcare provider. They understand your needs better and will be in a better position to offer you the best treatment plan. Mr. Edward James has dedicated his life to helping those affected by Type 1 diabetes. Visit his website for more information about this and much more.