What treatment options are available for diabetes therapy?
Tailored to the degree of the metabolic disorder
Take targeted action to counteract with medical care
Diabetes means that the body can no longer process blood sugar properly and now needs help. Regardless of whether your metabolic disorder is just beginning or you already have severe symptoms. The resulting constantly elevated blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels without you noticing it at first. Since the damage is not directly noticeable, it usually remains untreated for a while and lays the foundation for many secondary diseases. It is precisely for this reason that it is necessary to actively look after your own health and to take early and targeted countermeasures, including medical care.
Diabetes management involves a combination of several key measures designed to optimise blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of serious complications:
- Adjusting lifestyle habits
- Dietary changes aimed at lowering blood sugar levels
- Exercise aimed at lowering blood sugar levels
- Comprehensive information about diabetes to enable you to lead an active and purposeful life
- Regular self-monitoring of blood sugar levels
- Personalised treatment and medical care
In type 1 diabetes, the body no longer produces any insulin at all (absolute insulin deficiency), which is why a regular supply of insulin is vital, and a balanced diet and physical activity are important. There are various types of insulin therapy.
In type 2 diabetes, non-pharmacological measures such as diet, increased physical activity and, where appropriate, weight loss are the first line of treatment. In some cases, these basic measures alone are sufficient to normalise blood sugar levels. If these measures do not yield sufficient results, oral antidiabetic drugs (pharmacological therapy) are usually prescribed. Treatment usually begins with a single active ingredient. If this does not achieve satisfactory blood glucose control, combinations of different active ingredients may also be used. If adequate blood glucose control cannot be achieved with oral antidiabetic drugs at standard doses, insulin is also used in people with type 2 diabetes.
In insulin therapy today, the aim is to replicate the insulin secretion of a healthy person as closely as possible. A distinction is made between the following forms of treatment:
- Meal-based insulin therapy
- Conventional insulin therapy (CT)
- Intensified insulin therapy (ICT)
- Insulin pump therapy (CSII)