A doctor may find the first signs of diabetes, such as sugar in the urine or too much sugar in the blood, during a routine exam. Sometimes the problem is found by a glucose tolerance test, which measures the level of glucose in the blood before, and at timed intervals after, drinking a sugary liquid. Research shows some increase in blood glucose levels often occurs with age. This increase results from weight gain, particularly when fat increases around the waist. Treatment Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.
Good control requires a careful blend of diet, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and medication.
People with type 1 diabetes control their blood sugar with insulin injections and frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose. People with type 2 diabetes generally control their blood sugar with oral medications. In some cases, insulin injections are needed to keep type 2 diabetes under control. Diet is very important to lowering blood glucose levels. In planning a diet, the doctor considers the patient's weight and daily physical activity.