Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInsulin for Type 1 DiabetesAmylinomimetic InjectablesOther MedicationsOther Treatment Options
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Insulin for Type 1 Diabetes
Amylinomimetic Injectables
Other Medications
Other Treatment Options
Treatment typically involves daily insulin injections or the use of aninsulin pumpto manage your blood sugar levels.Individuals with type 1 diabetes may require other treatments depending on the severity of the disease and to manage complications of diabetes.
This article discusses the medications and other therapies for managing type 1 diabetes.
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If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to either inject insulin or use an insulin pump every day to make up for the insulin that your pancreas is not producing.
It’s not possible to take insulin in pill form because stomach acid would break it down before it could reach your bloodstream.
Insulin is needed to manage your blood sugar levels and provide energy for your body. Without it, glucose cannot enter the muscles and use it for energy.
Types
See the table below for the different types of insulins available:
For more information about types of insulin, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Delivery Methods
Insulin is available in two dosage forms, as follows:
Insulin can be administered through several different methods, including:
Syringe
Your healthcare provider will tell you how much insulin you need to draw up from the vial for each dose. The insulin is injected through a needle.
Pen
Some pens use cartridges inserted into the pen, while others are prefilled and discarded after use. The insulin dose is dialed on the pen, and the insulin is injected through a needle.
Pump
An insulin pump delivers insulin continuously through a semi-permanent tube in the stomach or back of the upper arm. Your healthcare provider will show you how and where to place the tube.
The pump gives you a basal dose of short- or rapid-acting insulin every hour. You can also calculate the mealtime/correction insulin dose to receive from your pump when you eat or when your blood sugar is high.
Inhaler
Inhaled insulin is taken using an oral inhaler.
Symlin (pramlintide) is an amylin analog used in conjunction with insulin in the treatment of type 1 andtype 2 diabetesin adults. It is typically prescribed when insulin alone does not control blood sugar well enough.
Symlin works just like the naturally occurring amylinto lower blood sugar in three ways:
Symlin is available as an injection pen administered under the skin, alongside insulin injection, but as a separate injection.It is usually given just before a meal.
Other Medications Prescribed in Type 1 Diabetes
There are other types of medications that you may need if you have type 1 diabetes to manage complications of the disease, likehypoglycemia(low blood sugar) anddiabeticketoacidosis(DKA).
Hypoglycemia is blood sugar below 70 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) and needs to be treated quickly.
Low blood sugar (55–69 mg/dL) can be treated with over-the-counter glucose tablets or gel. It can also be treated with food items that have about 15 grams of carbohydrates, such as:
Severely low blood sugar (less than 55 mg/dL) must be treated with prescription glucagon.
If you experience low blood sugar several times a week. it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider, as your treatment plan may need adjustments.
In the case of DKA, treatment will typically take place in the emergency room or hospital,and may involve continuous intravenous insulin, fluid replacement, and treatment of any underlying cause of DKA, such assepsis,heart attack, orstroke.
Can Ozempic Help Treat Type 1 Diabetes?Ozempic (semaglutide) is not approved for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that helps lower blood sugarin adults with type 2 diabetes.However, some research suggests that semaglutide can still provide benefits for those with type 1 diabetes.A small clinical study found an association between starting Ozempic soon after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and reduced insulin needs and better glycemic control.Other research has shown that it can encourage weight loss and improve glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes who are overweight or have obesity.If your healthcare provider prescribes Ozempic for type 1 diabetes, they will be doing so off-label, which means using the medication for a purpose other than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for.
Can Ozempic Help Treat Type 1 Diabetes?
Ozempic (semaglutide) is not approved for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that helps lower blood sugarin adults with type 2 diabetes.However, some research suggests that semaglutide can still provide benefits for those with type 1 diabetes.A small clinical study found an association between starting Ozempic soon after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and reduced insulin needs and better glycemic control.Other research has shown that it can encourage weight loss and improve glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes who are overweight or have obesity.If your healthcare provider prescribes Ozempic for type 1 diabetes, they will be doing so off-label, which means using the medication for a purpose other than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is not approved for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that helps lower blood sugarin adults with type 2 diabetes.However, some research suggests that semaglutide can still provide benefits for those with type 1 diabetes.
A small clinical study found an association between starting Ozempic soon after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and reduced insulin needs and better glycemic control.Other research has shown that it can encourage weight loss and improve glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes who are overweight or have obesity.
If your healthcare provider prescribes Ozempic for type 1 diabetes, they will be doing so off-label, which means using the medication for a purpose other than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for.
Are There Other Treatment Options for Type 1 Diabetes?
Insulin is the mainstay of treatment for type 1 diabetes. However, in some cases, two other medical procedures are used: islet cell transplantation andwhole pancreas transplantation. These procedures help replace the destroyed islets in type 1 diabetes.
Lantidra (donislecel) is an infusion cell therapy made from donor pancreatic islet cells.
It wasapprovedfor adults with type 1 diabetes who are unable to meet their A1c (average blood sugar over two or three months' time) goal because of repeated episodes of severe hypoglycemia despite intensive diabetes management and education.
Pancreas transplantation can be performed for the following three types of people with type 1 diabetes:
Can You Live Without a Pancreas? Understanding Life After Pancreatic Surgery
Lifestyle Modifications
In addition to medications and medical procedures, healthy lifestyle habits that may help manage type 1 diabetes include:
Summary
Type 1 diabetes is primarily managed with insulin. Depending on how well-controlled your diabetes is, your healthcare provider may also prescribe Symlin for additional helpor glucagon for severely low blood sugar.
Islet cell transplantation or whole pancreas transplantation are medical procedures that are also available for eligible adults.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also a beneficial complementary method for keeping your diabetes under control.Be sure to visit your healthcare provider regularly to monitor your condition.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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