Life with diabetes
Diabetes type 1 is a life-long condition but its progress can be slowed whilst with type 2 diabetes, it can be reversed. In both diseases, health complications can be avoided or reduced simply by adopting the correct approach.
Diabetes treatment is usually highly individual as everyone has different needs, according to their condition, the stage of development of the disease and other health complications. The classical approach to diabetes treatment is based on a combination of adjustments to diet, carbohydrate counting and medication, all of which can limit people’s personal and professional lives. Our D-Diet approach is based on a radical change in diet, requires the patient to learn how to eat and how to think about food in a new way but does not require calorie restriction or combining foods from exchange lists.
Classical approach to treatment
Healthcare professionals dealing with diabetes usually recommend diet adjustments to regulate carbohydrate intake in order to better control blood sugar levels. Because diabetes often goes hand in hand with obesity, they also recommend restricting calorie intake and appropriate physical activity.
Medication
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce any insulin so insulin has to be administered in the form of injections or an insulin pump. Depending upon the presence of further complications, type 1 diabetics might also need to take cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering drugs.
Type 2 diabetes
If changes in diet and exercise don’t bring about substantial change, those with type 2 diabetes are usually prescribed oral medication to help reduce high blood glucose levels and stimulate insulin production. These drugs might be insufficient on their own to bring blood glucose under control and are therefore sometimes combined with injectable drugs
called incretin mimetics, which influence the body’s glucose metabolism, stimulate the production of insulin and reduce the speed of digestion. If the oral and other non-insulin medications are not sufficient, insulin therapy is commenced. Because of the frequent presence of additional health problems, a range of cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering
drugs is also taken by many type 2 diabetics.
Adverse effects of drugs
It is worth noting the many adverse effects of drugs used to regulate insulin sensitivity and/or production (Diabetes UK, 2008):
Name |
Trade name |
Adverse effects |
Sulphonylureas (stimulate insulin production, increase insulin sensitivity) |
Chlorpropamide |
|
Hypoglycaemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, weight gain, liver function problems, blood disorders, allergic skin reactions, low sodium, headaches, jaundice, tinnitus, pins and needles, increased sensitivity to sunlight, intolerance to alcohol, visual disturbances, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, tremor, allergic reaction. |
Glibenclamide |
Daonil |
Gliclazide |
Diamicron, Diamicron MR |
Glipizide |
Glibenese, Minodiab |
Glimepiride |
Amaryl |
Tolbutamide |
|
Biguanide (helps to stop liver producing new glucose, increases insulin sensitivity) |
Metformin (immediate release) |
Glucophage |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, metallic taste, reduced absorption of vitamin B12, build up of lactic acid in the blood, allergic reactions, liver function problems. |
Metformin (prolonged release) |
Glucophage SR |
Prandial glucose regulator (stimulates insulin production) |
Repaglinide |
Prandin |
Hypoglycemia, allergic skin reactions, liver function problems, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, visual disturbances. |
Nateglinide |
Starlix |
Alpha glucosidase inhibitor (slows down the absorption of starchy foods from the intestine) |
Acarbose |
Glucobay |
Flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, liver function problems, tissue swelling, blood disorders, allergic skin reaction, intestinal problems. |
Thiazolidinediones* or Glitazones (reduce insulin resistance) |
Pioglitazone |
Actos |
Visual disturbance, tissue swelling, weight gain, sinusitis, respiratory infection, numbness, insomnia, liver function problems, increased risk of bone fractures in women. |
Pioglitazone/Metformin |
Competact |
Blood disorders, visual disturbance, flatulence, weight gain, aching muscles, headaches, blood in urine, impotence, tissue swelling, respiratory infection. |
DPP-4 inhibitors or Gliptins (help the hormone incretin to stay in the blood for longer time, which stimulates insulin production and reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver) |
Sitagliptin |
Januvia |
Hypoglycaemia, drowsiness, diarrhoea, nausea, flatulence, constipation, upper abdominal pain, tissue swelling, headaches, dizziness, osteoarthritis, arm or leg pain, allergic reactions, weight loss, loss of appetite, respiratory infection |
Vildagliptin |
Galvus |
Hypoglycaemia, sore throat and runny nose (nasopharyngitis), tremor, headache, dizziness, weakness, constipation, weight gain, tissue swelling, allergic reactions, liver problems. |
Vildagliptin/Metformin |
Eucreas |
Hypoglycaemia, tremor, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea. |
Incretin mimetics (influence the body’s glucose metabolism, stimulate the production of insulin, reduce the speed of digestion and appetite) |
Exenatide |
Byetta |
Hypoglycaemia, pancreatitis, decreased appetite, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion, abdominal pain, heartburn, bloating, flatulence, burping, constipation, sweating, feeling jittery, weakness, reaction at injection site, allergic skin reactions, general allergic reaction, kidney function problems, dehydration, unusual taste in the mouth, drowsiness. |
Liraglutide |
Victoza |
Hypoglycaemia, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, heartburn, decreased appetite, dizziness, sore throat and runny nose (nasopharyngitis), bronchitis, anorexia, abdominal pain, constipation, gastritis, bloating, flatulence, indigestion, toothache, fatigue, high temperature, reaction at injection site, kidney function problems, general allergic reaction, pancreatitis, thyroid problems. |
Thiazolidinedione*Singh et al. also found that Thiazolidinediones increase the risk of heart failure (Singh et al., 2007).
|
|
|
