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Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body either can't produce enough insulin (type 1), or doesn't use it properly (type 2). The majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. The hormone insulin helps the body use glucose (blood sugar) for energy, or helps store it for later use.
People with diabetes face an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems, and are more prone to depression and anxiety.
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This information is not intended to replace the advice of a
doctor. If you have any questions or concerns about a health
condition, contact your doctor.
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Talk with your doctor about a plan to monitor your diabetes. Here are some ways to help you manage your diabetes and lower your risk of diabetes complications:
- Test your blood glucose
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a well-balanced diet
- Exercise regularly and carry a fast-acting source of sugar
- Get an annual flu shot
- Quit smoking
- Manage stress
- Look for any signs of redness, swelling, sores, cracks or breaks in the skin, or extreme dryness in your feet
- Get an eye exam every one to two years and a dental exam every six months.
For people with type 1 diabetes, following the above tips isn’t enough; daily insulin injections are necessary to keep blood sugar in control.
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Medications commonly used to treat diabetes include the following:
- Insulin
- Humalog (insulin lispro)
- Lantus (insulin glargine)
- NovoLog (insulin aspart)
- Glucotrol (glipizide), Micronase (glyburide), and other oral hypoglycemics
- Avandia (rosiglitazone) and Actos (pioglitazone)
- Starlix (nateglinide) and Prandin (repaglinide)
- Glucophage (metformin)
- Precose (acarbose) and Glyset (miglitol)
- Glucagon.
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For more information on diabetes, login
to WebMD and visit the Diabetes Condition Center.
Other helpful resources include:
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