Diabetes
This page on HealthMBA.com is about diabetes. It covers diabetes screening, and diabetes medication as well as many general diabetes related topics. Diabetes is becoming a large problem in the world today. However with diabetes treatment and management, those with this disease can live a very normal life.
Diabetes
This series of fact sheets is based on the work of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness of a wide range of clinical preventive services—including screening, counseling, and chemoprevention (the use of medication to prevent diseases)—to develop recommendations for preventive care in the primary care setting.
This fact sheet presents highlights of USPSTF recommendations on this topic and should not be used to make treatment or policy decisions.
Who does the USPSTF recommend get tested for diabetes?
The USPSTF recommends screening adults who have hypertension or hyperlipidemia for type 2 diabetes.
Who can benefit from diabetes screening?
Patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease may benefit most from screening for type 2 diabetes, since identifying diabetes can help guide treatments that reduce the risk for cardiovascular events. Screening for diabetes in patients who have hypertension or hyperlipidemia should be part of an integrated approach to reducing cardiovascular risk because recommended treatment for these diseases is more intensive in people with diabetes.
What are the potential harms of screening?
Screening for type 2 diabetes in patients who have no symptoms could cause anxiety and a negative change in self-perception; a diagnosis of diabetes could lead to loss of insurability. Early detection through screening could subject patients to the potential risks of treatment for a longer period of time than would be the case if the diagnosis was made clinically, and has uncertain benefits. False-positive results could contribute to psychological distress.
The importance of diabetes prevention
All patients should be encouraged to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. More aggressive interventions to establish and maintain these behaviors should be considered for patients who are at increased risk for diabetes, namely those who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or are of certain racial and ethnic backgrounds, such as American Indians.
How do these recommendations differ from previous Task Force Recommendations?
The current USPSTF has adopted a more positive recommendation than it had in the past for targeted diabetes screening. Although widespread routine screening has not been endorsed either by the current or the previous USPSTF, the current Task Force recommends that patients with hypertension or hyperlipidemia be screened.
For more information on diabetes screening, contact the following organizations:
healthfinder®
http://www.healthfinder.gov
National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
http://www.niddk.nih.gov
Diabetes Treatment
The majority of the people with diabetes, especially those in the early stages, they control their diabetes by managing their blood sugar effectively through diet, weight loss and physical activity. But for those who this does not provide effective control for, there are other options avaliable
If your weight is normal and your blood glucose is not manageable by diet and exercise alone, your doctor may prescribe oral diabetes medications to lower your blood glucose levels. There are many different kinds of medications available that will effectively do this. Each works a bit differently and has its own side effects. If one medication is not enough, your doctor may suggest combining two of these diabetes treatment medications.
Below is a list of the most common types of diabetes medications.
- Sulfonylureas
- Biguanides
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Meglitinides
- Thiazolidinediones
- Insulin
