Medications and Diabetic Supplies Team Up to Best Effect

by

Steve L Wells

To assist patients to keep their diabetes under control and so enjoy a prolonged healthy life, doctors may prescribe medications to be used in addition to the diet and exercise routines developed by each patient’s diabetes plan treatment team. These medications, from a fast acting injectable agent such as insulin to combination drugs in pill form taken by mouth, may also need to be taken on a daily basis. Diabetic patients who are taking medications are encouraged where they can to use diabetic supplies such as blood glucose monitoring systems, meters and testing supplies to ensure that their medications are working appropriately. Diabetes supplies and diabetes medications are used collaboratively to enable patients to control their disease and enjoy a healthy lifestyle .

An effective diabetes treatment plan is based around a healthy low fat, high fiber diet and exercise, often in combination with a weight loss program, and with adjustments made to recognize that particular body’s insulin resistance or lack of insulin production. Supplements may be added to the patient’s diet to help stimulate insulin activity but medications address the need to help glucose absorption when the patient’s body can’t. As diabetes patients embark on the journey of managing their diabetes, learning about their diabetes medications is an essential part of success in diabetes management and maintaining wellness. These medications also need to be taken into account as meal plans are made. Diabetes medications include a range of inhibitors and the insulin hormone which is lacking in the patient’s body. This latter can be injected by an insulin pump or with a syringe. Insulin is usually prescribed for patients who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Injectable insulin comes in various types from very fast acting to long acting with18 to 24 hours duration. Inhibitors, also called anti catalysts ,are substances known to slow or stop a metabolic process. There are several common anti-hyperglycemic agents that are taken orally. Anti-hyperglycemic agents counter high levels of glucose in the blood and help to avoid the serious and sometimes fatal complications that can arise from this condition. Taken in pill form these agents can also lower blood sugar levels very quickly (10 to 20 minutes) and include inhibitors from these classes, marketed under various trade names, biguanides, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors and thiazolidinediones and oral combination drugs. There are also glucose tablets or gels, which can be used to raise blood sugar quickly. Diabetes patients start to manage their health actively when they check and record their blood sugar levels as they take their prescribed medications. Those who are taking insulin can use diabetes supplies to check their blood sugar levels before and after injecting insulin into their bodies. It is important to check blood glucose levels before meals because this will help the doctor determine if the diabetic patient’s medication is working as it should. With the range of oral and injectable diabetes medications available, doctors rely on monitoring and detailed health histories in order to prescribe the right medication the dosage and other considerations for each patient. Depending on the medication that is prescribed, there are different optimal times that blood glucose monitoring systems, meters and necessary diabetes testing supplies should be used to check and record blood glucose levels. These diabetic supplies also help monitor the efficacy of the medications that have been prescribed. If a diabetes patient’s medication has been recently changed such as an increase or decrease in dosage or to new medication entirely, then more frequent blood glucose testing is recommended. The body can respond positively and negatively to various changes in diet and medication. Effective monitoring through the use of diabetic supplies is a central component of treatment and management. Results of self-testing can be used in determining what changes to make in medication type and dosage to maintain the optimum effect for the patient. Such monitoring also provides vital information to the diabetes treatment plan team who may make changes to diet and routine as a result and so contribute to the patient’s ability to manage his or her health and maintain a desirable state of wellness.Stephen L. Wells

is one of the founders of

Total Health Diabetes, LLC

and the Co-Chairman. Stephen’s passion for healthy living and being submersed in technology, has culminated in an unique approach to provide the tools, Information and products necessary to help diabetics lead long, healthy and vibrant lives. Stephen can be reached at (407) 767-5907 or email him at stevewells@totalhealthdiabetes.com

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