FATIGUE FREQUENT URINATION INCREASED THIRST BLURRED VISION

Twenty years ago, there were only two oral medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Today, there are 12 different classes of medications to address the disease. There are also new oral medications that have been proven to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“These diabetes medications work in different ways, so we have more tools. This has made it easier to control diabetes simply because we have more choices,” says Petersen. “Often, you can use two medications together to get twice the benefits because they work in different ways.”

Of course, the most effective drug for controlling diabetes is insulin, and there are new types of synthetic insulin—from fast-acting to long-lasting—that provide more flexibility to manage and treat diabetes.

Prediabetes

PREDIABETES OCCURS WHEN YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL IS HIGHER THAN NORMAL BUT NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO WARRANT A DIAGNOSIS OF ACTUAL DIABETES.

PREDIABETES IS A WAKE-UP CALL, BECAUSE, IF NOT ADDRESSED, YOU HAVE A HIGHER RISK

“A lot of people have the sense that if they have to start using insulin they’ve failed, but using it can mean bringing your diabetes under excellent control,” says Petersen. “Because the natural progression of the disease puts you at much higher risk of complications, if you get to the point where you need insulin, it can be a lifesaver. It’s not a cure, and it carries its own risks, but insulin is the only drug that can always bring blood glucose down to normal levels.”

And if you thought insulin is only administered via syringe, think again. There are now small devices (the size of a flip phone or pager) that have a tiny tube that’s inserted under the skin. The

OF DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE AND AVOID—OR AT LEAST DELAY— DEVELOPING DIABETES BY GETTING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR NUMBER DOWN TO A NORMAL device can be programmed to deliver accurate amounts of insulin to meet your specific needs.

LEVEL. THESE LIFESTYLE CHANGES INCLUDE EATING RIGHT, REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT. YOU DON’T NEED A TOTAL METAMORPHOSIS TO SEE IMPROVEMENT. JUST DROPPING 10 TO 15 POUNDS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Petersen says the next exciting development for diabetics will be the release of a system that combines a continuous glucose meter and a glucose pump that will automatically release insulin as needed. Think of it as an artificial pancreas outside the body.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of energy going into developing these over the last few years. We are ‘this close’ to having it on the market,” notes Peterson.

“Trials still have to be wrapped up, and we need FDA approval, but I believe we’ll have these on the market within the next two to three years. It’s still not perfect or a cure, but it will greatly ease the ability of people to manage their diabetes and is very relevant to everyone who has type 1 diabetes and to many people with type 2 diabetes who use insulin.”