Goals of Treatment

Treatment strategy for patients with diabetes may vary depending on the type of diabetes, disease condition, age, extent of metabolic abnormality, and status of diabetic complications. The objectives of diabetes management are to reduce symptoms of diabetes, to prevent development or progression of diabetic complications and disease conditions associated with diabetes, and to enable affected individuals to maintain their quality of life (QOL) and life expectancy comparable to those seen in healthy individuals.

The Goals of Diabetes Treatment are :

To keep the blood sugar as normal as possible without serious high or low blood sugars.
To prevent tissue damage caused by too much sugar in the blood stream.

Things to Keep in Mind to Achieve These Goals

In people with obesity, not only glycemic and weight control but blood pressure and lipid control along with smoking cessation are to be implemented to prevent chronic diabetic complications or their progression.
People who are pre-diabetics should attempt strict lifestyle modifications in order to reduce their risk of diabetes.
Glucose levels in affected individuals should be controlled as close to normal as possible. Achieving and maintaining favorable glycemic control early after initiation of treatment is likely to lead to favorable long-term outcomes.

Familiarize Yourself With The Warning Signs of Diabetes.
Sometimes the symptoms of diabetes are very obvious while sometimes the symptoms may just present themselves as subtle signs. Early detection and knowledge of the warning signs is your greatest weapon against the disease and its complications.

Presence of Few of These Signs in Case of Undiagnosed Diabetes in a Child Merits Further Investigation :

Frequent trips to bathroom for urination
Frequent trips to the water fountain
Irritability
Lack of energy,fatigue
Weight loss which is unexplained
Rubbing the eyes, difficulty seeing the board in school or TV at home
Difficulty in paying attention

For Children With Diagnosed And Established Diabetes :

Lack of energy and fatigue
Difficulty in paying attention
Confusion

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus :
These symptoms may occur suddenly and must receive immediate medical attention.

Excessive thirst
Frequent urination -urination in large quantities day and night
Sudden vision changes
A sweet, fruity odor may be present in urine, on one’s breath/body (caused by high amounts of ketones in the blood and/or urine)
Extreme hunger (increased appetite)
Rapid or unexplained weight loss
Fatigue (weak and tired)
Irritability and mood changes
Drowsiness, lethargy
Nausea and/or vomiting
Abdominal pain
Rapid, hard breathing
Confusion, Stupor, Unconsciousness

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus :
These symptoms occur gradually, however, they must receive immediate medical attention.

Blurred vision
Tingling or numbness in the legs, feet or fingers
Frequent infections of the skin
Recurring skin, gum or urinary tract infections
Darker patches of skin usually in neck folds
Itching of skin and/or genitals
Slow healing of cuts and bruises
Any of the symptoms listed under type 1 diabetes