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Several years ago, my husband and I
dined with a young man who had just arrived from the Former Soviet Union to
start a new life in the United States. I prepared a nice dinner and the
conversation, challenging because of language barriers, was still lots of fun.
With dessert, I brought out a tray filled with assorted teas – Earl Grey, twig,
green, cinnamon, chamomile, and more. Alex was overwhelmed. He was
used to food shortages and few choices, so this was more than he could handle.
He nervously pushed the tray away and insisted that I bring out tea…plain tea.
No sweetener, no lemon, no creamer, just plain, ordinary tea. He was not
ready to try something new.
The assortment of diabetes choices that exists today can be frightening as well.
I could easily fill several tables with the various pills, insulin, pumps, and
other products that are now on the market. If you have diabetes, don’t
settle for your same old “plain tea” style of diabetes treatment, especially if
you aren’t satisfied with your control. Explore the newer options that are
available.
Here are a few:
“Designer Insulin”
Once upon a time there was a single type of insulin. Today, there are
fast-acting and long-acting ones that offer smoother and more reliable control.
Long-acting insulin, such as Lantus, helps maintain normal blood sugar levels
for up to 24 hours. Fast-acting insulin, such as Novolog and Humalog, are taken
at mealtimes, become active within minutes, and continue working for up to 4
hours. Many people use both types together. Those with type 2 often take a
combination of insulin and oral medication.
Oral Medications
There are five types of diabetes pills available today that act in a variety
of ways. They can increase insulin sensitivity, encourage the body to release
additional insulin, delay carbohydrate absorption, and/or suppress the body’s
release of glucose. If your current pill is not helping you achieve excellent
control or you are experiencing unpleasant side effects, try a different one.
Medication “Helpers”
If you’ve tried just about everything, but are still frustrated with your
diabetes control, Byetta or Symlin may help. Symlin improves post-meal glucose
levels in people with type 1 or type 2 who take fast-acting, mealtime insulin.
Byetta, a synthetic product inspired by the active ingredient in the saliva of
the Gila monster, helps individuals with type 2 who take Metformin and/or a
sulfonylurea, two common oral diabetes medications. Both are injected and are
extremely effective.
Pens, Pumps, and Syringes
There are now multiple insulin delivery options in addition to the good ‘ole
syringe. Pens contain insulin cartridges and are easily carried in a purse or
pocket. The pump is a beeper-sized computer that delivers insulin through tubing
that is attached to the body with an adhesive patch. The pump eliminates the
need for routine injections and helps prevent users from going too low,
especially at night, which is attractive to many people.
Meal Plans
Diabetic meal planning methods have become more personalized over the past
few years. If you follow a regimen that is not comfortable, there are numerous
ones to choose from: carbohydrate counting, exchanges, Glycemic Index, Plate
Method, etc. A registered dietitian can help you choose an approach that will
work for you.
Wading through the abundant choices of diabetes options can be overwhelming.
Finding the right treatment may not be as easy as choosing from a collection of
fine teas, but with patience and persistence, you and your health care team can
work together to discover the treatment that is…your cup of tea.
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