The Importance of Diabetes Medication Management

Last Updated on October 17, 2021

Medication management for diabetes patients is paramount. Medication helps diabetes patients manage their blood sugar levels. With effective medication management, you can keep your blood sugar levels in check. Plus, you can identify potential diabetes complications in their early stages. And if necessary, you can take appropriate measures to address such problems. 

Risks of Poor Diabetes Medication Management

Poor diabetes medication management can increase your risk of serious health problems, such as:

1. Vision Loss

Uncontrolled diabetes can damage blood vessels in the eyes. This damage can reach a point where it causes diabetic retinopathy, resulting in vision loss and blindness. In addition, diabetes has been linked to cataracts and other eye problems.  Having retinopathy may cause life insurance premiums to be more expensive, or lead to a decline in coverage altogether.

2. Dementia

Research is ongoing into the relationship between dementia and diabetes. To date, evidence indicates uncontrolled diabetes can increase an individual’s risk of developing dementia when he or she gets older. Comparatively, medication management may help diabetes patients enjoy a higher quality of life as they age. 

3. Fatigue

Frequent glucose spikes and dips can cause diabetes patients to feel tired and worn out. These spikes and dips can disrupt these patients’ ability to work, go to school, and perform various everyday activities. They can affect diabetes patients’ ability to feel their best and enjoy life to the fullest extent, too. 

4. Wound Healing

Diabetes medications help the body metabolize glucose. If a diabetes patient does not take their medications as required, the body cannot transform insulin into glucose at a consistent level. And if this patient suffers a cut, scratch, or any other type of wound, the injury can escalate quickly. He or she may also require more time than others to fully heal. 

5. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A high blood glucose level can increase a diabetes patient’s risk of experiencing a UTI. If a diabetes patient suffers a UTI, he or she is prone to a fever, chills, and a persistent and strong urge to urinate. Yet diabetes patients who maintain steady blood sugar levels can protect against UTIs and similar issues.  

Diabetes can affect people in different ways. Much in the same vein, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing diabetes medications. However, there are several tried-and-true approaches to diabetes medication management. With the right approach, you are well-equipped to manage your use of diabetes medications now and in the future. 

Diabetes Medication Management Tips

There is no cure for diabetes. But there are many things you can do to manage your diabetes medications and get the best results from them. These include:

1. Make a Schedule

Create a diabetes medication schedule and stick to it. Your schedule ensures you can take your diabetes medications at the same time daily. It limits the risk that you’ll forget to take your medications, too. 

It often helps to make your diabetes medication management schedule transparent. For instance, you can set up a schedule at work or home that shows what medications you need to take, and when you need to take them. 

Meanwhile, some diabetes patients use alarms for medication management. You can set up a recurring alarm to remind you to take your diabetes medications according to a regular schedule. 

Also, mobile apps can make a world of difference relative to diabetes medication management. Apps are available to schedule diabetes medication reminders and track your medication use. Many of these apps are available free of charge. They can be downloaded onto any smartphone or tablet as well. 

2. Track Your Results

Monitor the results of your diabetes medication management. This allows you to identify any medication management problems in their early stages. It also ensures you can fine-tune your medication management approach over time. 

Creating a journal offers a great starting point for tracking medication management for diabetes. You can write a journal entry every day that details when you take your diabetes medications. Furthermore, you can include details about any side effects after you take your medications for diabetes. 

It can be helpful to track the costs of your diabetes medication management. If you find you are spending beyond your means to manage your diabetes medications, you may want to pursue financial assistance. Or, you may want to consider your diabetes medication management expenses impact your life insurance premium and other costs.  Being compliant with your Doctor’s instructions on diabetes treatment is extremely important for life insurance applications and underwriters.

Watch for trends and patterns in your diabetes medication management results. As always, if you find your diabetes medications are ineffective or cause severe side effects, notify your doctor immediately. And remember: you can share your medication management results with your doctor going forward. Your doctor can then use these insights to determine what diabetes medications can deliver the optimal results. 

3. Seek Expert Guidance

Consult with your healthcare provider to get diabetes medication management assistance and support. Together, you and your healthcare practitioner can discover the best way to manage your diabetes. 

There may be instances in which your healthcare provider recommends you work with a specialist for diabetes medication management. For example, your healthcare provider may suggest meeting with a family nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners can provide pharmaceutical treatments to diabetes patients. And research shows that nurse practitioner diabetes treatments can deliver results comparable to those administered under a physician’s care. 

Moreover, certain groups of diabetes patients may require additional medication management support. Elderly diabetes patients, for instance, may be less likely than others to use technology for medication management. Fortunately, they can work with healthcare professionals who can provide personalized medication management tips. 

On the other hand, parents with children who have been diagnosed with diabetes may require extra help. These parents can partner with healthcare professionals who can offer diabetes medication management insights, tools, and resources. They can even work with school teachers and administrators to ensure their children receive comprehensive diabetes medication management support.  

Prioritize Medication Management for Diabetes

Diabetes patients who prioritize medication management may avoid myriad health issues. But medication management is one of many tools these patients can use to improve their overall health and wellbeing. 

Along with medication management, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet can have far-flung effects on diabetes patients. You may benefit from alternative diabetes therapies as well. 

Work with your doctor to explore diabetes management options. Then, you and your doctor can determine the best course of action to manage your diabetes. Everyone’s body is different, and will react to diabetes medications differently.  Don’t get frustrated and don’t give up.  Eventually you’ll determine the right balance of medications and a healthy lifestyle to control your diabetes condition.