Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

The goal of diabetes management is to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as safely possible. In addition, since diabetes may greatly increase a person's risk for heart disease, preventative measures for tightly controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels are now an essential part of diabetes treatment as well.

People with diabetes must take responsibility for their day-to-day care. This includes monitoring their blood glucose levels, dietary management, maintaining physical activity, keeping their weight and stress under control, monitoring their oral medications and, if required, insulin use via injections or pump. To help patients achieve this, UCSF's Diabetes Teaching Center offers self-management educational programs that emphasize individualized diabetes care. The program enables patients to make more consistent and appropriate adjustments in their therapy and lifestyle.

Dietary Management and Physical Activity

Modifying one's eating habits and increasing physical activity is typically the first step toward reducing blood sugar levels. At UCSF Medical Center, all patients work with their doctor and/or certified dietician to develop a dietary plan to manage blood sugar levels. Our Teaching Center conducts workshops that provide patients with information on food nutrient content as well as how to eat and cook in a healthier manner.

Insulin Therapy

People with type 1 diabetes require multiple insulin injections each day in order to maintain safe insulin levels. Insulin also is often required for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Using an insulin pump is an alternative to injections. The pump is about the size of a pager and is usually worn on your belt. Insulin is delivered through a small tube (catheter) that is placed under the skin (usually in the abdomen).

There are four major types of insulin:

• Rapid-acting
• Short-acting
• Intermediate-acting
• Long-acting

Your doctor will determine your dose and how often you need to take insulin. There is not any standard insulin dose as it depends on many factors such as your body weight, when you eat, how often you exercise and how much insulin your body produces.

Oral Medications

Sometimes blood sugar levels remain high in people with type 2 diabetes even though they are eating in a healthy manner and exercising. When this happens, medications taken in pill form may be prescribed to help control blood sugar levels. The medications work by several different mechanisms. These include improving the effectiveness of the body's natural insulin, reducing blood sugar production, increasing insulin production and inhibiting blood sugar absorption. Oral diabetes medications are sometimes taken in combination with insulin.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007