Does type 2 diabetes require medication?

This article discusses whether type 2 diabetes requires medication and provides corresponding knowledge points. It is hoped that this will be helpful to everyone, and don't forget to bookmark this site. For type 2 diabetes patients, is it better to use insulin for a long time or to stick to oral medication to control blood sugar?

This depends on the current development stage of your diabetes. If you can control your blood sugar well through diet and exercise combined with oral medication, there is no need to use insulin. However, if control is not good, it is better to use insulin. What should be done for type 2 diabetes? One should receive medication treatment, watch their diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a regular sleep schedule.

How to treat type 2 diabetes? Specific treatment methods for type 2 diabetes include: Medication treatment: Medication treatment is one of the main methods for internal medicine treatment of type 2 diabetes. Depending on the individual's condition, under the guidance of a doctor, one can choose to use antidiabetic medications with minimal side effects and high efficacy. It is not good to rely too much on medication, as the saying goes, "Medicine is three parts poison." Most antidiabetic medications have certain side effects, so when using them, one must pay attention to the instructions regarding usage, dosage, contraindications, and precautions to avoid misuse.

Exercise treatment: Exercise is also one of the basic treatments for type 2 diabetes. Based on one's age and physical condition, one should engage in daily exercise and physical activity of appropriate intensity, such as walking, gymnastics, and tai chi. Regular exercise not only improves quality of life, but also increases insulin sensitivity, improves blood sugar and lipid levels. However, it is important to note that exercising on an empty stomach can easily lead to hypoglycemia, so exercise should be done 30 minutes after a meal.

Dietary treatment: This is one of the basic measures that every patient needs to master. The total daily intake of calories and nutrients should generally be determined based on one's body weight and intensity of physical activity. In addition, alcohol, salt, high cholesterol foods, fat, and sugar intake should be limited.

Gastric bypass surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: For obese patients with type 2 diabetes, gastric bypass surgery intervenes in the metabolism of sugar and fat by changing the pathway of food flow in the gastrointestinal tract. It increases insulin sensitivity, reduces insulin resistance, promotes the proliferation of pancreatic beta cells, improves pancreatic function, and corrects disrupted glucose metabolism, thereby curing diabetes.

Do people with diabetes really need to take medication for life? People with diabetes do not necessarily need to take medication for life. Once diagnosed with diabetes, the treatment measures include diabetes education, diabetes dietary therapy, diabetes exercise therapy, and diabetes self-monitoring. Some patients can control their blood sugar within normal range through these treatment measures and do not need medication. If blood sugar still does not reach the target after these treatment measures, it is recommended to use medication such as oral medications or insulin.

In the "Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes," the statement that Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong medication disease has been deleted, and the first edition of the "Expert Consensus on Relieving Type 2 Diabetes in China in 2021" has been introduced, which has indicated that this disease can be reversed.

In this context, reversal refers to patients whose blood sugar remains at or within normal range without the use of glucose-lowering medications. Reversal can also be classified into different stages, mainly including partial reversal, complete reversal, and long-term reversal. Partial reversal: Without medication for at least one year, HbA1c 6.5%, fasting blood sugar 7mmol/L.

Complete reversal: Without medication for at least one year, HbA1c 5.7%, fasting blood sugar 5.6mmol/L. Long-term reversal: Complete reversal state lasting for more than 5 years (still need regular check-ups and remain vigilant about maintaining weight to prevent relapse). To reverse type 2 diabetes, patients must make efforts in three aspects.

One is to make efforts to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight, which will increase insulin secretion. Second is to follow medical advice and start strengthening blood sugar lowering treatment as early as possible, such as taking antidiabetic medications or injecting insulin, in order to control blood sugar within a reasonable range.

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