There are various ways in which diabetes is managed:

Insulin

Insulin is needed in type 1 diabetes and some type 2. There are lots of forms available, from fast-acting products, sometimes called bolus or mealtime insulin, that tackle the rise in blood glucose caused by eating or drinking, to long-acting insulins, often referred to as background or basal products, that keep glucose levels stable day and night. It can take a while to hit upon the right insulin regimen for someone, and even then it will change over time, as there are many factors at play, including weight gain or loss, hormonal changes such as those that occur during puberty and pregnancy, stress, illness and other medicines. Most people who use insulin self-inject, but if they are struggling to regulate their blood glucose levels, they may be given an insulin pump that does it automatically.

Diet

Diet is important for all people with diabetes. Eating healthily and limiting sugar, fat, salt and alcohol can help keep blood sugar levels stable and control weight.

Exercise

Exercise is also important, but people with diabetes need to understand how physical activity can affect their blood glucose levels and take steps to manage this, for example, by adjusting carbohydrate intake and/or insulin use.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes performed. This might be weight loss surgery, which improves blood glucose levels through weight loss and by changing how hormones work, reducing insulin resistance and improving the way in which cells use insulin. Or implantation of insulin-producing pancreas cells into the liver of a person with type 1 diabetes, known as an islet cell transplant.

Understanding the condition

It is important that patients with diabetes have a good understanding of their condition so that they are better able to manage it. Not just in terms of treatment, but also the various lifestyle issues, and need for monitoring and screening. This includes annual reviews to check the health of their eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and circulation, but also general awareness of the need to self-check where possible and seek help if problems arise, such as noticing numbness in the feet, difficulty seeing at night, or experiencing regular hypos.

A vital aspect of type 1 diabetes care is monitoring blood glucose levels. Some individuals, particularly when newly diagnosed, will need to monitor their levels quite frequently to gain insight into how eating and activity causes blood glucose to rise and fall. All people with diabetes will need to have their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measured every few months. HbA1c is a good indicator of how blood glucose levels are overall.