Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is an incurable condition that affects millions of Americans. Fortunately, people who are diagnosed with this condition can benefit from numerous quality treatment options. The FDA has approved several medications for type 2 diabetes, and healthy lifestyle changes can also help people to control their symptoms. With that in mind, the top three treatments for type 2 diabetes are medications, dieting and exercises. And worth noting is that dieting and exercise are both natural treatments! Below, we'll review several diets that are all natural treatments for diabetes; we'll also talk about diabetic-friendly foods like okra, which are super low on the glycemic index and are highly beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Medication is vital and ultimately necessary for long-term treatment plans, but healthy dieting is the cornerstone of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and preventing diabetic complications. Only your doctor can recommend the best course of treatment for your unique condition. Here, though, you can find questions and answers about different types of medications, diet tips and exercises that can improve your understanding of today's top-rated diabetes treatment options.

Frequently Asked Questions ( 12 )   Add a Question

  1. How is exercise helpful for folks with type 2 diabetes?
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    One of the problems with type 2 diabetes is that glucose in the bloodstream won’t move into the muscles. The condition is worsened by inactivity. The main benefit of exercising when you have type 2 diabetes is that you help increase the chance insulin will be absorbed by the muscles cells. Some of the best exercises are aerobics, strength, and stretching ones.

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  2. How does building muscle help?
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    Working out with weights not only makes your muscles stronger, but it also increases the need for glucose to feed the muscles. You should fit in two or three half-hour weight training sessions per week along with the aerobic exercises.

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  3. How is okra helpful in the treatment of diabetes?
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    There is no cure for diabetes, but foods like okra can be extremely helpful for diabetics who need better management of their symptoms. Okra is rated below a 20 on the glycemic index, which means it takes a long time to be converted to sugar in the bloodstream -- a great thing for diabetics. Meanwhile, okra is also high in potassium and several other essential vitamins and nutrients. Building a diet around foods low on the glycemic index is paramount for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

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  4. How does metformin work?
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    Most people when they are originally diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes are prescribed metformin to control the disease. Metformin lowers the production of glucose in the liver. Glucose is a sugar your cells use for energy; if it doesn’t get absorbed into the cells, the excess glucose can cause health problems. Metformin also helps the cells to absorb glucose.

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  5. Which diet plans are best for people with type 2 diabetes?
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    Diets that minimize carbohydrates are best for Type-2 diabetes patients. Among the best diets that limit the amount of carbohydrates while giving you a balanced nutritional meal are the dash, Mediterranean, and vegan diets.

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  6. What makes the Mediterranean diet useful?
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    The Mediterranean diet relies on foods low in sugar, saturated fats, and sugar like the Dash diet, but it also emphasizes fish, seafood, poultry, and red wine. One of the keys to using a Mediterranean diet to lose weight is replacing butter and dressing with olive oil and olive oil-based dressings.

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  7. Why is aerobic exercise useful?
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    Aerobic exercises such as walking, riding bikes or swimming helps to activate the body and get your blood flowing. As your body heats up during the workout, your muscle cells demand more glucose and become more receptive to insulin. This reduces the amount of glucose in your body. You should try to get about 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week.

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  8. What is sulfonylurea?
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    Sulfonylurea is a medication that helps the pancreas produce insulin. Insulin is the substance that helps the cells absorb glucose and also to absorb glucose into body fat. These two actions lower the amount of glucose in your blood, which is helpful for diabetics. In order for sulfonylurea to work, the pancreas must still be producing some level of insulin.

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  9. How does insulin help people with type 2 diabetes?
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    Insulin is prescribed once the pancreas stops producing enough insulin to control glucose levels. Insulin is a hormone that is normally injected into the body to break down blood sugar.

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  10. What makes up a Vegan Diet?
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    A vegan diet is comparable to the Mediterranean and Dash diets, but items like dairy and meat products are strictly prohibited. This diet relies on foods like legumes, nuts, seeds, sesame oil, and avocados to provide the nutrition you need.

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  11. Which medications are most common for type 2 diabetes?
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    The most common medications prescribed for Type-2 diabetes patients are metformin and sulfonylurea. For those whose conditions have advanced beyond these medications, insulin is prescribed.

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  12. What is the Dash diet?
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    The Dash diet has been recommended as the best diet in fighting diabetes. The diet relies on certain nutrients like potassium, fiber, and proteins found in fruits, lean meats, and whole-grain foods. Eating these foods helps to lower and control high blood pressure.

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