Diabetic treatment entails taking the correct medicine, eating properly, exercising regularly and other steps to keep blood sugar under control. Doing this can help avoid serious complications like kidney failure, heart disease or blindness.
Monitor your own glucose levels using a glucometer, which checks your blood sugar every 30 minutes or more throughout the day. Or you can opt for a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS), which attaches to your body and checks blood sugar every few minutes up to seven days at a time.
In order to help regulate insulin production and bring back normal blood glucose levels, you will need medicines. Your healthcare provider or diabetes nurse can work together with you to find the medication and dose that's most suitable for you.
Other medications can be prescribed to address other health concerns associated with diabetes, such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels.
Newer classes of drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, can help lower blood sugar, improve cholesterol levels and provide other benefits for those living with type 2 diabetes. Examples include canaglifozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), empagliflozin (Jardiance) and ertugliflozin (Steglatro).
