Insulin is often injected using a fine needle and syringe or an insulin pen — a device that looks like a large ink pen. An insulin pump also may be an option. The pump is a device about the size of a small cellphone worn on the outside of your body.

A tube connects the reservoir of insulin to a tube catheter that's inserted under the skin of your abdomen. A continuous glucose monitor, on the left, is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.

An insulin pump, attached to the pocket, is a device that's worn outside of the body with a tube that connects the reservoir of insulin to a catheter inserted under the skin of the abdomen.

Insulin pumps are programmed to deliver specific amounts of insulin automatically and when you eat. A continuous glucose monitor, on the left, is a device that measures blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.

Insulin pumps are programmed to deliver specific amounts of insulin continuously and with food. A tubeless pump that works wirelessly is also now available. You program an insulin pump to dispense specific amounts of insulin. It can be adjusted to give out more or less insulin depending on meals, activity level and blood sugar level.

A closed loop system is a device implanted in the body that links a continuous glucose monitor to an insulin pump. The monitor checks blood sugar levels regularly. The device automatically delivers the right amount of insulin when the monitor shows that it's needed.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved several hybrid closed loop systems for type 1 diabetes. They are called "hybrid" because these systems require some input from the user.

For example, you may have to tell the device how many carbohydrates are eaten, or confirm blood sugar levels from time to time. A closed loop system that doesn't need any user input isn't available yet. But more of these systems currently are in clinical trials. Sometimes your provider may prescribe other oral or injected drugs as well.

Some diabetes drugs help your pancreas to release more insulin. Others prevent the production and release of glucose from your liver, which means you need less insulin to move sugar into your cells.

Still others block the action of stomach or intestinal enzymes that break down carbohydrates, slowing their absorption, or make your tissues more sensitive to insulin.

Metformin Glumetza, Fortamet, others is generally the first drug prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Another class of medication called SGLT2 inhibitors may be used. They work by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing filtered sugar into the blood.

Instead, the sugar is eliminated in the urine. In some people who have type 1 diabetes, a pancreas transplant may be an option. Islet transplants are being studied as well. With a successful pancreas transplant, you would no longer need insulin therapy. But transplants aren't always successful.

And these procedures pose serious risks. You need a lifetime of immune-suppressing drugs to prevent organ rejection. These drugs can have serious side effects. Because of this, transplants are usually reserved for people whose diabetes can't be controlled or those who also need a kidney transplant.

Some people with type 2 diabetes who are obese and have a body mass index higher than 35 may be helped by some types of bariatric surgery. People who've had gastric bypass have seen major improvements in their blood sugar levels.

But this procedure's long-term risks and benefits for type 2 diabetes aren't yet known. Controlling your blood sugar level is essential to keeping your baby healthy.

It can also keep you from having complications during delivery. In addition to having a healthy diet and exercising regularly, your treatment plan for gestational diabetes may include monitoring your blood sugar.

In some cases, you may also use insulin or oral drugs. Your provider will monitor your blood sugar level during labor. If your blood sugar rises, your baby may release high levels of insulin.

This can lead to low blood sugar right after birth. Treatment for prediabetes usually involves healthy lifestyle choices. These habits can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal.

Or it could keep it from rising toward the levels seen in type 2 diabetes. Keeping a healthy weight through exercise and healthy eating can help. Drugs — such as metformin, statins and high blood pressure medications — may be an option for some people with prediabetes and other conditions such as heart disease.

Many factors can affect your blood sugar. Problems may sometimes come up that need care right away. High blood sugar hyperglycemia in diabetes can occur for many reasons, including eating too much, being sick or not taking enough glucose-lowering medication.

Check your blood sugar level as directed by your provider. And watch for symptoms of high blood sugar, including:. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes. If your cells are starved for energy, your body may begin to break down fat.

This makes toxic acids known as ketones, which can build up in the blood. Watch for the following symptoms:. You can check your urine for excess ketones with a ketones test kit that you can get without a prescription. If you have excess ketones in your urine, talk with your provider right away or seek emergency care.

This condition is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. This condition is seen in people with type 2 diabetes. It often happens after an illness. Call your provider or seek medical care right away if you have symptoms of this condition.

If your blood sugar level drops below your target range, it's known as low blood sugar diabetic hypoglycemia. If you're taking drugs that lower your blood sugar, including insulin, your blood sugar level can drop for many reasons.

These include skipping a meal and getting more physical activity than normal. Low blood sugar also occurs if you take too much insulin or too much of a glucose-lowering medication that causes the pancreas to hold insulin. Low blood sugar is best treated with carbohydrates that your body can absorb quickly, such as fruit juice or glucose tablets.

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Diabetes is a serious disease. Following your diabetes treatment plan takes total commitment. Careful management of diabetes can lower your risk of serious or life-threatening complications.

Make physical activity part of your daily routine. Regular physical activity can help prevent prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. It can also help those who already have diabetes to maintain better blood sugar control.

A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity — such as brisk walking — most days of the week is recommended. Aim for at least minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a week. Getting regular aerobic exercise along with getting at least two days a week of strength training exercises can help control blood sugar more effectively than does either type of exercise alone.

Aerobic exercises can include walking, biking or dancing. Resistance training can include weight training and body weight exercises.

Also try to spend less time sitting still. Try to get up and move around for a few minutes at least every 30 minutes or so when you're awake. Keep your vaccinations up to date. High blood sugar can weaken your immune system. Get a flu shot every year.

Your provider may recommend the pneumonia and COVID vaccines, as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC also currently recommends hepatitis B vaccination if you haven't previously had it and you're an adult ages 19 to 59 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The most recent CDC guidelines suggest vaccination as soon as possible after diagnosis with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If you are age 60 or older, have been diagnosed with diabetes, and haven't previously received the vaccine, talk to your provider about whether it's right for you.

If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly. Alcohol can cause either high or low blood sugar. This depends on how much you drink and if you eat at the same time. If you choose to drink, do so only in moderation — one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men — and always with food.

Remember to include the carbohydrates from any alcohol you drink in your daily carbohydrate count. And check your blood sugar levels before going to bed. Many substances have been shown to improve the body's ability to process insulin in some studies.

Other studies fail to find any benefit for blood sugar control or in lowering A1C levels. Because of the conflicting findings, there aren't any alternative therapies that are currently recommended to help everyone to manage blood sugar.

If you decide to try any type of alternative therapy, don't stop taking the drugs that your provider has prescribed. Be sure to discuss the use of any of these therapies with your provider. Make sure that they won't cause bad reactions or interact with your current therapy. Also, no treatments — alternative or conventional — can cure diabetes.

If you're using insulin therapy for diabetes, never stop using insulin unless directed to do so by your provider. Living with diabetes can be difficult and frustrating. Sometimes, even when you've done everything right, your blood sugar levels may rise.

But stick with your diabetes management plan and you'll likely see a positive difference in your A1C when you visit your provider. Good diabetes management can take a great deal of time and feel overwhelming. Some people find that it helps to talk to someone.

Your provider can probably recommend a mental health professional for you to speak with. Or you may want to try a support group. Sharing your frustrations and triumphs with people who understand what you're going through can be very helpful. And you may find that others have great tips to share about diabetes management.

Your provider may know of a local support group. You can also call the American Diabetes Association at DIABETES or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at CURE You're likely to start by seeing your health care provider if you're having diabetes symptoms.

If your child is having diabetes symptoms, you might see your child's health care provider. If blood sugar levels are very high, you'll likely be sent to the emergency room. If blood sugar levels aren't high enough to put you or your child immediately at risk, you may be referred to a provider trained in diagnosing and treating diabetes endocrinologist.

Soon after diagnosis, you'll also likely meet with a diabetes educator and a registered dietitian to get more information on managing your diabetes. Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your provider. For diabetes, some questions to ask include:.

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Diagnosis Type 1 diabetes FAQs Endocrinologist Yogish Kudva, M. Care at Mayo Clinic Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your diabetes-related health concerns Start Here.

Enlarge image Close. Continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump A continuous glucose monitor, on the left, is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.

Request an appointment. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show references Ferri FF. Diabetes mellitus. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Accessed May 7, Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of medical care in diabetes — Diabetes Care.

Papadakis MA, et al. McGraw Hill; Accessed May 4, Diabetes risk factors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed June 2, Cunningham FG, et al. In: Williams Obstetrics. McGraw-Hill Education; Diabetes and DKA ketoacidosis. That gives you the net carbs. Subtract the sugar from the net carbs.

Then you know your total starches. They have 29 grams of total carbohydrates and 6 grams of fiber per serving. So the net carbs are 23, and this represents sugar plus starch. But there are only 2 grams of sugar listed on the label. People with diabetes should limit serving sizes of starchy foods.

Eating high-starch foods with similar amounts of protein balances the resulting sugars. A balanced diet goes a long way toward controlling blood sugar. Your blood sugar balance also may improve when you:.

Skip to cookie consent Skip to main content Skip to alerts Skip to pause carousel. About Us Newsroom How to Control Blood Sugar With Diet. More alert details. Nov 29, share on facebook. Use protein to lower blood sugar. Balance blood sugar with these foods.

Whole grains and fiber Whole grains such as whole wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, oats, and quinoa are an excellent source of fiber. Leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables Leafy greens such as romaine, kale, and spinach, along with non-starchy vegetables for example, peppers, tomatoes, and onions are high in fiber, low in calories, and nutrient-rich.

Nuts, nut butters, and seeds All nuts are high in protein and healthy fats. Berries All fruits contain natural sugar, but berries have the lowest amount.

Our society is not really set up to support people trying to control their blood sugar. Many of the foods we buy are processed and contain a lot of sugar. Calculate a balance between net carbs and protein. Consistent activity boosts your metabolism so you are better able to burn off sugars.

And if you have a high-carb meal, taking a walk immediately or participating in another activity can burn off excess sugars in the bloodstream. In addition, hot liquids tend to make you feel fuller and more satisfied, so they may reduce snacking that raises blood sugar.