Diabetes and Drug Treatments – discussion Response
Respond to the post and provide recommendation for alternative drug treatments and patient education strategies for treatment and management .
Diabetes and Drug Treatments
Type 2 Diabetes
Rosenthal & Burchum, (2021) wrote that each year, 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2019). If left untreated, diabetic patients are at risk for several alterations, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, neuropathy, and blindness.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that disrupts the way one’s body utilizes sugar. When there is not enough insulin or if one’s body stops responding to insulin in the body, sugar builds up. Reportedly, about 90 percent of people in the United States, Canada, and Europe, with diabetes have type 2 diabetes (Wexler, 2022).
Drug and diet
Rosenthal, & Burchum, (2021) wrote that Metformin works by decreasing glucose production by the liver and increasing tissue response to insulin. Corcoran & Jacobs (2022) stated that Metformin is an oral medication typically dosed from 500 to 2550 mg per day and administered with a meal to decrease GI upset. The daily dose is often titrated weekly in increments of 500 mg or 850 mg to reduce this risk. The recommendations are to take metformin at the same time every day. Extended-release tablets are typically taken once daily with an evening meal and should be swallowed with a full glass of water.
Aroda & Ratner (2018.) opined that Metformin is an inexpensive drug for the management of type 2 diabetes and can provide sustainable health gains. It could be considered a cost-effective strategy for type 2 diabetes prevention, alongside comprehensive lifestyle programs.
According to Khardon, (2022), the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended placing the patient’s condition, desires, abilities, and tolerances at the center of the decision-making process for the treatment of type II diabetes.
“The EASD/ADA position statement contains 7 key points:
Individualized glycemic targets and glucose-lowering therapies
Diet, exercise, and education as the foundation of the treatment program
Use of metformin as the optimal first-line drug unless contraindicated
After metformin, the use of 1 or 2 additional oral or injectable agents, with a goal of minimizing adverse effects if possible
Ultimately, insulin therapy alone or with other agents if needed to maintain blood glucose control
Where possible, all treatment decisions should involve the patient, with a focus on patient preferences, needs, and values
A major focus on comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction”
Fletcher, (2021) stated that an important way to manage prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is through a healthy, balanced diet. Being mindful of carbohydrate intake, eating smaller meals regularly, and choosing healthy, nutrient-dense options can all help a person manage it. People can try increasing the number of vegetables, beans, legumes, fruit, and whole grains they eat.
Impact of this type of diabetes on patients
TK is a colleague who has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for over ten years and has been on Metformin. She stated that her doctor recommended metformin. She stated that she has experienced nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, others) is generally the first medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes. It works primarily by lowering glucose production in the liver and improving your body’s sensitivity to insulin so that your body uses insulin more effectively (Mayoclinic, 2022).
Weight loss results in better control of blood sugar levels, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. If one is overweight, they may begin to see improvements in these factors after losing as little as 5% of their body weight. However, the more weight one loses, the greater the benefit to one’s health and disease management (Mayoclinic, 2022).
