November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Kimberly Geraghty, a pharmacist with Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, spoke with Maine’s Total Coverage about some of the devices and medications available to help manage diabetes.What is diabetes? Diabetes is when your body can’t produce enough insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 is insulin resistance, where the body does not use insulin effectively, or may even produce less insulin. There is also gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, but Geraghty said that typically resolves once the baby is born. Some signs and symptoms of diabetes can include high blood sugar levels, increased thirst and urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. What medical devices are available?Geraghty said there are several devices available. For monitoring glucose levels, she said there are blood glucose meters, which can be used for singular readings. There are also continuous glucose monitors for 24/7 monitoring of blood glucose levels.For insulin delivery, there are insulin pens and pumps. There are also automated insulin delivery systems, also called AIDs, that combine both continuous blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery. What medications are available?Geraghty said there are oral medications, such as metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and sulfonylureas, that can be used to treat diabetes. She said an injectable non-insulin medication that can be used is GLP-1 receptor agonists. She said each person is different and it is important to talk to your primary care provider to see which medication is right for you.How can diabetes be managed? Those who have type 1 diabetes can use insulin injections, an insulin pump, or an AID to help manage and control their diabetes. For those who have type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, can help them control their blood glucose levels. There are also medications available that they can use to control their glucose levels. Northern Light offers more information on their website.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Kimberly Geraghty, a pharmacist with Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, spoke with Maine’s Total Coverage about some of the devices and medications available to help manage diabetes.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is when your body can’t produce enough insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 is insulin resistance, where the body does not use insulin effectively, or may even produce less insulin. There is also gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, but Geraghty said that typically resolves once the baby is born.
Some signs and symptoms of diabetes can include high blood sugar levels, increased thirst and urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds.
What medical devices are available?
Geraghty said there are several devices available. For monitoring glucose levels, she said there are blood glucose meters, which can be used for singular readings. There are also continuous glucose monitors for 24/7 monitoring of blood glucose levels.
For insulin delivery, there are insulin pens and pumps. There are also automated insulin delivery systems, also called AIDs, that combine both continuous blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery.
What medications are available?
Geraghty said there are oral medications, such as metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and sulfonylureas, that can be used to treat diabetes. She said an injectable non-insulin medication that can be used is GLP-1 receptor agonists.
She said each person is different and it is important to talk to your primary care provider to see which medication is right for you.
How can diabetes be managed?
Those who have type 1 diabetes can use insulin injections, an insulin pump, or an AID to help manage and control their diabetes.
For those who have type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, can help them control their blood glucose levels. There are also medications available that they can use to control their glucose levels.
Northern Light offers more information on their website.