How is diabetes currently treated?

Many ways: Many different ways 1: diet modification and exercise 2: oral medicines (too many too list and how they work) 3: Insulin (many types with different times of actions) or commonly a combination of the above 3.

Stepwise: 1) start with metformin 500mg, increasing doses. If a1c is not below 7.0 after 3 months, then 2) add a second drug (onglyza, januvia, tradjenta, (linagliptin) bydureon). If a1c is not below 7.0 after 3 months, then 3) add actos. If triple therapy does not get you to goal, then you need insulin. Also, manage overal condition with diet, exercise, weight loss, zestril, aspirin, and other lifestyle changes.