How to Find the Right Diabetes Treatment
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But diabetes and some of the medications for it may raise or lower your risk of some types of cancer, including cancer of the liver, pancreas, or colon. Scientists aren’t sure what the link is. But if you have a very high risk for a certain type of cancer, your doctor may think about that before she recommends a treatment.
How active you are. Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels. That’s a good thing, but you need to factor it into your treatment plan. Talk to your doctor about how much you move each day. You may need to change the dosage of some diabetes drugs if you're more active in your daily life or at work.
Do you drink? Alcohol can lower your blood sugar levels for hours, so it affects how well insulin or diabetes pills work. Tell your doctor how much you drink and if you want to be able to sip a beer or cocktail from time to time. You may need to take extra steps to be sure that it doesn’t interfere with your meds.
Fear of needles. If you can’t stand shots, you may be less likely to give yourself injections when you need them, which is key for blood sugar control. So talk to your doctor if you’re afraid of needles or don’t feel confident about injecting yourself.
Some diabetes drugs come in devices that are like pens and are easier to use than syringes and vials of medicine. Your doctor or nurse can also show you how to use them. You might also be able to take a type of insulin that you inhale through your nose.