Controlling Blood Sugar Levels

Managing blood glucose levels (measured by HbA1c) is crucial to diabetes treatment including the blood sugars in the ‘Time-in Range’ (T.I.R). The target levels for HbA1c can vary based on factors such as existing health conditions, life expectancy, duration of the disease, and the ability to adhere to treatment. It’s important to note that aggressive glucose management is only suitable for some.

Here are some recommended treatment options:

• Lifestyle changes: This involves diabetes education, counselling, weight reduction, improved diet (such as more fiber from veggies, fruit, whole grains, legumes, low-fat dairy, and fresh fish), and improved physical fitness. It’s the foundation of any T2DM treatment program.
• Medications: These may be prescribed in combination with lifestyle changes.
• Recommended initial therapy: Metformin is the most cost-effective and well-studied option.
• Other medications: Sulfonylureas (the oldest well-studied drug), Thiazolidinediones, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and DPP-4 inhibitors, medicines in the Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors class include canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. They are available as single-ingredient products and in combination with other diabetes medicines such as metformin.
• Insulin replacement therapy: This is designed for individual patients to achieve an average glycemic profile without weight gain or hypoglycemia.
• Recommended for newly-diagnosed, highly motivated patients with HbA1c levels near target: have the option to engage in lifestyle changes.

It’s important to remember that controlling blood sugar levels is achievable with the proper treatment and lifestyle changes under the direction of an expert Diabetologist team. You could have one centre to take care of you at this KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital’s Diabetes Centre, OPD Number 5 (Phone:08312551486/1488)

Dr. Mallikarjun V Jali​
Chief Diabetologist & Professor of Diabetology (Med)​
MD, FRCP, FICP, FGSI, D.Litt