Treatments for Type 1 Diabetes

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Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that currently has no cure. However, it can be managed with proper treatment and care. The goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain blood sugar levels before and after meals within a healthy range. By doing so, you will feel better on a daily basis and will help prevent or delay the complications of diabetes. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy blood sugar range is for you.

The main components of treatment are:

Insulin (and possibly pramlintide)
Blood glucose monitoring
Diet
Exercise
Glucagon for emergency management of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)

Treatment may include the following:

Lifestyle changes Medications Surgery Alternative and complementary therapies Other treatments

References

Diabetes causes. National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/causes/index.aspx . Accessed December 31, 2012.

Diabetes type 1. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us . Updated December 28, 2012. Accessed December 31, 2012.

Type 1 diabetes. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/?loc=DropDownDB-type1 . Accessed December 31, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Kim Carmichael, MD
Review Date: 11/2012
Update Date: 11/26/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.