Healthy eating is a cornerstone of healthy living with or without diabetes. But if you have diabetes, you need to know how foods affect your blood sugar levels. It's not only the type of food you eat, but also how much you eat and the combinations of food types you eat.

Physical activity is another important part of your diabetes management plan. When you exercise, your muscles use sugar (glucose) for energy. Regular physical activity also helps your body use insulin more efficiently.

These factors work together to lower your blood sugar level. The more strenuous your workout, the longer the effect lasts. But even light activities such as housework, gardening or being on your feet for extended periods can improve your blood sugar.

When you're sick, your body produces stress-related hormones that help your body fight the illness, but they also can raise your blood sugar level. Changes in your appetite and normal activity also may complicate diabetes management.

The liver normally releases stored sugar to counteract falling blood sugar levels. But if your liver is busy metabolizing alcohol, your blood sugar level may not get the boost it needs from your liver. Alcohol can result in low blood sugar shortly after you drink it and for as long as 24 hours afterward.

Changes in hormone levels the week before and during menstruation can result in significant fluctuations in blood sugar levels. If you're stressed, the hormones your body produces in response to prolonged stress may cause a rise in your blood sugar level. Additionally, it may be harder to closely follow your usual diabetes management routine if you're under a lot of extra pressure. The more you know about factors that influence your blood sugar level, the more you can anticipate fluctuations and plan accordingly. If you're having trouble keeping your blood sugar level in your target range, ask your diabetes health care team for help.

Insulin degludec is sometimes classed separately as an "ultra-long" acting insulin due to its duration of action of about 42 hours, compared with 24 hours for most other long acting insulin preparations.

Most oral anti-diabetic agents are contraindicated in pregnancy, in which insulin is preferred.

Insulin is not administered by other routes, although this has been studied. An inhaled form was briefly licensed, but subsequently withdrawn.