How is Diabetes Treated?
The goal of diabetes treatment is to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible–not too high (called hyperglycemia) or too low (called hypoglycemia).
The first step is to have a healthy diet and to exercise. This may mean you’ll need to change your current diet and exercise habits. You’ll also have to watch your weight (or even lose weight if you are overweight) to keep your blood sugar level as normal as possible. Your doctor will talk to you about the kinds of food you should eat and how much exercise you’ll need every week.
Regularly checking your blood sugar is a key to helping you control it. Blood sugar checks can help you see how food, exercise, and insulin or medicine affect your level. Checking your blood sugar also allows you and your doctor to change your treatment plan if needed.
Sometimes diet and exercise alone can’t keep your blood sugar at a normal level. Then your doctor will talk to you about other treatments, such as medicine or insulin.
Call your doctor if:
- You start feeling very thirsty and are urinating more often than usual.
- You are nauseous or vomit more than once.
- You lose a significant amount of weight.
- You start breathing deeper and faster.
- Your breath smells like nail polish remover.
- You start to tremble, feel weak and drowsy, and then feel confused or dizzy, or your vision becomes blurred.
- You feel uncoordinated.
- You have a sore, blister, or wound (especially on your feet) that won’t heal.
