Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It affects the body's ability to produce or use insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. Diabetes treatment and management are essential to prevent complications and maintain good health. Currently, diabetes is treated with the help of insulin therapy, oral medications, and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. However, there have been various advances and developments in diabetes treatment and management. Let's know more about them.

Latest Developments in Diabetes Treatment

1. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

CGM is a device that checks your sugar levels at all times. Thus, you can adjust your medicine and food to keep your sugar levels healthy.

2. Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery System

It is a device that uses CGM information to give you the right amount of insulin automatically. This helps prevent a dangerous drop in sugar levels.

3. Artificial Pancreas

This is a device that acts like a pancreas and gives you insulin automatically based on your CGM results. It has done well in testing and should be available soon for diabetics.

4. Islet Cell Transplantation

This is a surgery that involves the transplantation of insulin-making cells in your pancreas. It has been successful in improving insulin and sugar control.

5. Gene Therapy

It is a new way of treating diabetes by changing genes to make insulin or help the body use it better. It's still being tested but is believed to be a promising treatment in the future.

Latest Developments in Diabetes Management

New advancements in diabetes management include:

1. Diet: New research shows that eating fewer carbohydrates can help lower blood sugar levels and make the body more responsive to insulin. Also, skipping meals sometimes, called intermittent fasting, can help control blood sugar. However, those taking medications must consult with their doctor before changing their diet.

2. Exercise: Exercising makes the body more sensitive to insulin and controls blood sugar. Research shows that intense exercise that involves short bursts, called HIIT, might work best in managing diabetes.

3. Medication: SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists can help control blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart problems.

4. Stress management: A type of therapy called cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help manage the stress and anxiety associated with diabetes and develop ways to cope with them

If you or a loved one has diabetes, it's important to consult a physician to discuss the latest treatment options. With advances in diabetes care, there are more ways than ever to manage the condition effectively.

Consult Apollo's Expert Diabetologists

FAQs

1. What's the latest innovation in diabetes treatment?

The bionic pancreas is a new device that delivers insulin automatically. It was found to be more effective in maintaining blood sugar levels than standard care.

2. What new technologies are being used to manage diabetes?

New insulin pumps, infusion devices, continuous glucose monitors, and smartphone apps are available for diabetics to manage their condition.

3. What new medicines are being used in diabetes mellitus treatments?

Newer drugs such as sulphonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and thiazolidinediones have been developed with significant efficacy in reducing high blood sugar.

4. What technology is best for managing diabetes?

Smart insulin pens with a smartphone app can help people with diabetes manage insulin delivery. It can also help in calculating and tracking doses, providing reminders and giving reports.

5. How to manage diabetes?

Diabetes management involves monitoring blood sugar, eating well, staying active, taking medication, and using insulin (if necessary).

Consult Apollo's Expert Diabetologists

You can also manage your diabetes like a pro with Apollo 24|7's 12-week empower programme.

Medically reviewed by Dr Sonia Bhatt.