Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus｜Explanation of diet, exercise, and drug therapy by specialists
The goal of diabetes treatment, in a nutshell, is to To live a life no different than someone without diabetes."It is.
The goal is to prevent complications and maintain a healthy life for a long time by properly controlling blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is a disease that often has few subjective symptoms, but prolonged high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, and other parts of the body. Therefore, it is important to maintain good blood glucose levels.
Goal of diabetes treatment (HbA1c)
Widely used as an indicator of blood glucose control is **HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c)**.
In many patients. HbA1c less than 7.0 The goal of the project is to
However,
- age
- Complications
- Risk of hypoglycemia
It is important to set individual goals depending on such factors as
Three Pillars of Diabetes Treatment
Treatment of diabetes mellitus is a combination of the following three
(1) Diet
2) Exercise Therapy
(iii) Drug therapy
It is important to select a treatment that can be continued without difficulty according to the patient's condition and lifestyle.
medical diet
Diet is the basis of diabetes treatment. There is no need to eat special foods,Eating a nutritionally balanced diet in moderation.is important.
The main points are as follows
Avoid overeating and maintain appropriate energy levels
A well-balanced meal with staple food, main dishes and side dishes
Get enough vegetables and fiber.
. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks.
Eat meals at regular times
Extreme carbohydrate restriction and other unreasonable dietary restrictions often do not last long and can be detrimental to your health. It is important to develop eating habits that can be continued in accordance with one's lifestyle.
therapeutic exercise
Exercise not only lowers blood glucose levels,Improves insulin functionIt is also useful for weight management and prevention of arteriosclerosis. It is also useful for weight control and prevention of arteriosclerosis.
Exercise is Combine aerobic exercise with strength trainingis effective.
aerobic exercise
Walking, jogging, bicycling, etc. for 20-30 minutes per day
Resistance exercise (strength training)
Squats, push-ups, etc. 2-3 times a week
If you have complications from heart disease or diabetes, you may need to adjust your exercise program. It is important to consult with your physician to ensure that you continue to exercise safely.
Ikejiri-Ohashi Sera Clinic has introduced a physician-led exercise therapy program and medical diet,Creating a system that allows even those who are not good at exercise to continuesupport.
Pharmacotherapy for Diabetes Mellitus
If blood glucose control cannot be achieved adequately with diet and exercise therapy alone, treatment with medication is used.
Currently, there are various types of diabetes medications available, and the choice is based on the patient's medical condition and constitution.
Biguanide (metformin)
It lowers blood glucose levels by reducing the amount of sugar produced in the liver and improving the effectiveness of insulin.
It is widely used in type 2 diabetes because it is less likely to cause hypoglycemia and less likely to cause weight gain.
DPP-4 inhibitor
This drug enhances the function of the hormone incretin, which helps insulin secretion after meals.
It is less likely to cause hypoglycemia and is used by many patients in Japan.
SGLT2 inhibitor
This drug lowers blood glucose levels by causing sugar to be excreted in the urine.
It has also been reported to reduce weight loss and blood pressure, and to reduce the progression of heart failure and kidney disease.
GLP-1 receptor agonist
This drug suppresses appetite while increasing incretin action and stimulating insulin secretion.
In addition to improving blood sugar, weight loss can also be expected. Injectable drugs are the mainstay, but oral drugs are also used.
Sulfonylureas (SU drugs)
This drug promotes insulin secretion from the pancreas.
While it has a strong hypoglycemic effect, it should be used with caution for hypoglycemia and weight gain.
insulin therapy
This treatment supplements insulin by injection.
It is an essential treatment for type 1 diabetes and is also used for type 2 diabetes when blood glucose levels are high or the pancreas is underactive. Currently, pen injectors are widely available and are easier to use than ever before.
Systemic management is important in diabetes
In diabetes, it is important to manage not only blood glucose levels but also the following
Blood pressure management
Cholesterol management
Weight management
No smoking
Comprehensive management of these factors can prevent atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of complications.
Diabetes treatment at our hospital
We determine a customized treatment plan for each patient based on a comprehensive evaluation of not only blood glucose levels and HbA1c, but also weight, lifestyle, type of diabetes, and the presence of complications.
First, diet and exercise therapy will be the basis of the treatment, and we will propose methods that can be continued without difficulty while checking lifestyle habits.
Depending on blood glucose levels and the type of disease, oral and injectable drug therapy, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and insulin therapy, is used to select the appropriate treatment depending on the patient's condition.
After the start of treatment, periodic blood tests are performed to check blood glucose control, aiming for stable long-term management.
The following article also discusses diabetes in more detail.
Diabetes Symptoms and Complications
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