If you notice the initial symptoms of diabetes in your child or yourself, it is imperative to seek medical assistance at the earliest. Therefore, we suggest that you reach out to a doctor, so that he/she can begin treatment before the disease aggravates.
Likewise, women must undergo routine tests for gestational diabetes during the second or third trimester of their pregnancy. And, in case they show symptoms of this diabetes, they should get a diagnosis.
To diagnose one with diabetes, a doctor may prescribe a simple test to check the presence of glucose or sugar in the urine. Additionally, he/she will examine your blood glucose levels by way of a finger stick. Furthermore, in some cases, doctors may conduct a more thorough evaluation through an oral glucose tolerance test, which can show if you have type 1 diabetes.
As for treatment, doctors generally prescribe a few different medications, which include oral drugs and injections. Moreover, insulin is the main form of treatment for type 1 diabetes.
There are 4 kinds of insulin commonly used in treatment, which are differentiated based on when their effects kick in and how long they last:
- Long-lasting insulin: Takes a few hours after injection to start working and lasts for at least 24 hours.
- Intermediate-acting insulin: Works within 1-2 hours of injection and its effects last for up to 18 hours.
- Short-acting insulin: Begins to show effects within 30 minutes of injection and lasts for 6-8 hours.
- Rapid-action insulin: Starts working within 15 minutes, with its effects lasting for 3-4 hours.