DIABETES
WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes is a condition where your body doesn't produce a sufficient amount of the insulin hormone to control your blood glucose, or sugar, levels. Uncontrolled blood glucose can lead to serious, long-term medical complications, such as organ failure and nerve damage.
TYPES OF DIABETES
There are two primary types of diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't produce any insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't make sufficient amounts of insulin, or it doesn't use the insulin it produces efficiently enough, so your blood sugar level is not properly regulated.
In addition to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, you may also develop gestational diabetes, a condition where your blood sugar levels remain high during pregnancy. This type of diabetes usually resolves after your baby is born.
Another common type of diabetes is prediabetes, a condition where your blood sugar levels remain elevated but aren't high enough to be considered diabetes.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?
In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, you may experience symptoms like:
- Increased hunger
- Persistent thirst
- Extreme fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent needs to urinate
You may also have blurry vision or notice that cuts are slow to heal.
WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DIABETES?
If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need daily insulin injections or medications to keep your blood sugar well controlled.
In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, your diet is important. As part of your treatment for Type 2 diabetes, your Healthpark Medical Center physician reviews your medical history, your lifestyle habits, and your diet to determine the best course of treatment.
Your physician works with you to create a personalized diet plan that not only helps to control your blood sugar but also promotes overall good health. You also need to monitor your blood sugar levels at home through a simple blood test. Your Healthpark Medical Center Inc. physician also monitors your blood glucose through routine health check appointments.
If being overweight is a risk factor for your prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, your Healthpark Medical Center Inc. physician can recommend a customized, medically supervised weight loss program to help you successfully lose excess weight.
Medically supervised weight loss is also a treatment option for metabolic syndrome, a condition that can result in diabetes due to an increase in blood sugar levels. Metabolic syndrome can also lead to higher blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels.
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