Diabetes : MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica (2024)

FAQs

Diabetes : MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica? ›

People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their body cannot move sugar from the blood into muscle and fat cells to be burned or stored for energy, and/or because their liver makes too much glucose and releases it into the blood. This is because either: Their pancreas does not make enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is when your body can't make enough insulin, or use it well. Insulin helps the cells in your body use glucose for energy. Without insulin, too much glucose is left in the blood. This causes high blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease.

You'll need insulin if other medicines no longer work well enough to keep your blood sugar within a healthy range. Sometimes you may need insulin for a short time, such as if you're pregnant, if you're ill, or to bring your blood sugar level down when you're first diagnosed. You inject insulin using an insulin pen.

From 90 to 130 mg/dL (5.0 to 7.2 mmol/L) for adults. From 90 to 130 mg/dL (5.0 to 7.2 mmol/L) for children, 13 to 19 years old. From 90 to 180 mg/dL (5.0 to 10.0 mmol/L) for children, 6 to 12 years old. From 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.5 to 10.0 mmol/L) for children under 6 years old.

In some cases, people with type 2 diabetes need insulin injections to manage their blood sugar levels. For others, type 2 diabetes can be managed without insulin.

Although there's no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it's possible for some people to reverse it. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication. This doesn't mean you're completely cured. Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease.

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. Within the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes.

Make and eat healthy food. Be active most days. Test your blood sugar often. Take medicines as prescribed, even if you feel good.

What is a safer drug than metformin? ›

SGLT – 2 Inhibitors ( Invokana, Farxiga, Jardiance, and Steglatro) Usage: This can be a good metformin alternative for people who show side effects of metformin. This medicine helps to control blood sugar levels by releasing extra glucose through urine.

As much as possible, avoid white bread, white rice, white pasta, candy, soda, desserts, and snacks like chips or crackers. Eating foods that can spike your blood sugar will not necessarily make the metformin not work, however, it will increase the burden it has to work against.

Although very rare, metformin's most serious side effect is lactic acidosis. Metformin has a “boxed” — also referred to as a “black box” — warning about this risk. A boxed warning is the most severe warning that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues.

For those without other major comorbidities, an A1C goal of 7–7.5% and a fasting glucose target range of 6.5–7.5 mmol/L (117–135 mg/dL) are recommended, whereas for frail older adults and those with multisystem disease, an A1C goal of 7.6–8.5% and a fasting glucose target range of 7.6–9.0 mmol/L (137–162 mg/dL) are ...

Adults over the age of 60 should try to maintain glucose levels between 100 to 140 mg/dL.

ORGANIZATION'S GUIDELINES. The Endocrine Society suggests an A1c from 7 percent to 7.5 percent for the healthiest older people, depending on whether they're taking drugs that can cause hypoglycemia.

Pancreatic beta cells that do not produce sufficient insulin in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are not permanently damaged during the early stages of the disease and can be restored to normal function through the removal of excess fat in the cells, according to a study entitled “Remission of Type 2 Diabetes for Two ...

Insulin should be initiated when A1C is ≥7.0% after 2–3 months of dual oral therapy. The preferred regimen for insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes is once-daily basal insulin. In addition to timely initiation, rapid titration of the dose is indispensable for successful insulin therapy.

But yes, it may be possible to put your type 2 diabetes into remission. This is when your blood sugar levels are below the diabetes range and you don't need to take diabetes medication anymore. This could be life-changing.

Watermelon is safe for people with diabetes to eat in moderation. However, it is best to consume watermelon and other high GI fruits alongside foods that contain plenty of nutritious fats, fiber, and protein.

Can I stop taking metformin when my sugar back to normal? ›

Summary. Metformin is a common drug for the treatment of diabetes. If you successfully manage your diabetes to remission, it's possible to stop taking metformin. Lifestyle and dietary changes can help you manage your blood sugar levels and possibly reach diabetes remission.

Making positive lifestyle changes such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting down to a healthy weight (and maintaining it) are the key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes.

For people with diabetes, blood sugar can spike. Dehydration—less water in your body means your blood sugar is more concentrated. Nose spray—some have chemicals that trigger your liver to make more blood sugar. Gum disease—it's both a complication of diabetes and a blood sugar spiker.

Too much food may cause your blood sugar level to climb too high (hyperglycemia). Talk to your diabetes health care team about how to best coordinate meal and medication schedules. Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Sugar-sweetened beverages tend to be high in calories and offer little nutrition.

Aging is associated with increased HbA1c levels, independently of glucose levels and insulin resistance, and also with decreased HbA1c diagnostic specificity.

If you have good control over diabetes then the good news is that HBA1C can drop by 10%. But if your levels are higher than 7.5 then the drop is slower.

Since your body doesn't respond to insulin the same as most, your fasting blood sugar reading can go up, even if you follow a strict diet. The boost in sugar is your body's way of making sure you have enough energy to get up and start the day.

feeling or being sick. abdominal (tummy) pain. rapid, deep breathing. signs of dehydration, such as a headache, dry skin and a weak, rapid heartbeat.

Can cinnamon replace metformin? ›

As a result, cinnamon seems to be as effective as metformin in increasing the Insulin sensitivity. In line with this study, Maleki et al. showed that HDL and insulin sensitivity were increased by the cinnamon supplementation while LDL, TG, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS (17).

An effective substitute for Metformin is a compound known as berberine or berberine hydrochloride, which is obtained from many plant species, including goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and turmeric.

Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.

Avoid consuming large amounts of alcohol while on metformin. Drinking alcohol while taking metformin increases your risk of developing low blood sugar or even lactic acidosis.

If a food has a GI score of between 70 and 100, it is high in sugar. Some fruits with a score in this range include: watermelons. overly ripe bananas.

If you eat a lot of sugar while taking Metformin, your body will have to work harder to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range, and the Metformin will not be as effective for weight loss. However, if it happens infrequently, you should not suffer too many negative side effects. The key is moderation.

Recent guidelines recommend considering use of metformin in patients with prediabetes (fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dL, 2-hr post-load glucose 140-199 mg/dL, or A1C 5.7-6.4%), especially in those who are <60 years old, have a BMI >35 kg/m², or have a history of gestational diabetes.

Metformin doesn't cause kidney damage. The kidneys process and clear the medication out of your system through your urine.

The average life expectancy of a type 2 diabetic patient is between 77 to 81 years. However, it is not uncommon for diabetics to live past the age of 85, should they be able to maintain good blood sugar levels and lengthen their lifespan.

What should a 75 year old blood sugar be? ›

Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart for Older Adults [ Ages 65+]

Those who do not have diabetes may be held to the same glucose range as healthy younger adults, keeping glucose between 70-140 mg/dL during the day.

A doctor might recommend A1C targets of 7.0–8.5% if a person: is older and has a shorter life expectancy.

What should your blood sugar be when you wake up? Whenever possible, aim to keep your glucose levels in range between 70 and 130 mg/dL in the morning before you eat breakfast, and between 70 and 180 mg/dL at other times.

Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL is considered low. If you think you have low blood sugar, check it. If you aren't able to check it, go ahead and treat it. Untreated low blood sugar can be dangerous, so it's important to know what to do about it and to treat it immediately.

Healthy older adults – In the absence of any long-term clinical trial data in healthy, older populations and in those with life expectancy of >10 years, an A1C goal of <7.5 percent (58.5 mmol/mol) should be considered in medication-treated patients.

Cheese. Low-fat types like cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, or mozzarella are high-protein choices that help keep your blood sugar in check. Enjoy a quarter-cup of cottage cheese with a half-cup of fruit, a piece of low-fat string cheese, or ricotta spread on whole-grain crackers.

It's the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 means that your body doesn't use insulin properly. And while some people can control their blood glucose (blood sugar) levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication or insulin to manage it. Regardless, you have everything you need to fight it.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or your body does not properly use the insulin it makes. As a result, sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. Your body gets sugar from foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, milk and fruit.

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by impaired insulin secretion and insulin action that lead to hyperglycaemia. Impaired glucose effectiveness and inadequate post-prandial glucagon suppression contribute significantly to hyperglycaemia.

What is type 2 diabetics in medical terminology? ›

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for around 90% of all cases of diabetes. In T2DM, the response to insulin is diminished, and this is defined as insulin resistance.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, foot problems, eye and kidney disease is increased.

It's caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin. It's often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Common diabetes health complications include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and other problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health.

Nerve damage (neuropathy): One of the most common diabetes complications, nerve damage can cause numbness and pain. Nerve damage most often affects the feet and legs but can also affect your digestion, blood vessels, and heart.

Insulin for Short-Term Blood Sugar Control

"The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends starting a person with type 2 diabetes on insulin if their A1C is above 9 percent and they have symptoms," said Mazhari. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include thirst, hunger, frequent urination, and weight loss.

Type 2 diabetes does not progress to type 1 diabetes as they are two different conditions. Treatment for type 2 diabetes may go from diet and exercise to oral medications to non-insulin injectables and eventually to insulin injections over time.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Diabetes is a lifelong disease and there is no cure. Some people with type 2 diabetes no longer need medicine for blood sugar control if they lose weight and become more active. When they reach their ideal weight, their body's own insulin and a healthy diet can control their blood sugar level.

How can you help someone with diabetes type 2? ›

Give them time in the daily schedule so they can manage their diabetes—check blood sugar, make healthy food, take a walk. Avoid blame. Many people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, but being overweight is just one of several factors involved.