Diabetes

Diabetes Q&A

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What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterized by an inability to properly convert food into energy. To understand diabetes, it helps to think about how your body processes the food you eat.

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Each time you eat or drink, a portion of that intake converts into glucose, a type of sugar. Your body uses that glucose as a form of energy for all kinds of cellular functions. Glucose travels through your bloodstream to nourish cells from head to toe. 

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In order for glucose to enter each cell, you need a hormone called insulin. People with diabetes either cannot produce insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot make proper use of the insulin they do produce (type 2 diabetes). 

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Some women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. This condition usually resolves after childbirth, but women who have it carry an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes for the rest of their lives. 

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What are some signs I might have diabetes?

Not everyone develops clear symptoms when they have diabetes, which is why it’s so important to come in for routine physical exams with your primary care provider. When symptoms are present, they might include:

• Unusual hunger or thirst

• Need to urinate frequently, especially at night

• Unintentional weight loss

• Excessively dry skin

• Sores that are slow to heal

• Frequent infections

• Sensations of tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

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Fortunately, getting screened for diabetes is a simple and straightforward process. Simply schedule a visit at Advance Healthcare Associates for lab testing. Screening can also reveal if you are prediabetic, meaning your blood sugar is nearing the threshold for diagnosis. 

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What can be done to treat diabetes?

There are many different ways to treat diabetes and a solution for just about every set of needs. People with type 1 diabetes require supplemental insulin in order to survive. Insulin therapy might also be a good option for some people with type 2 diabetes. If you try insulin supplementation, learning how to track your blood sugar is important.

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Many oral medications can help manage diabetes. Some drugs slow glucose production in your liver, while others make your tissues more sensitive to insulin. There are even medications that can prevent your kidneys from reabsorbing glucose from your blood, directing it to exit your body during urination, instead.

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Making lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet, getting plenty of exercise, and enhancing your sleep quality are all excellent ways to manage diabetes and avoid serious health complications.

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At Advance Healthcare Associates, you have access to practitioners who can provide nutritional counseling, diabetes monitoring, and treatment for issues like diabetic neuropathy. 

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Book your visit today by calling the office or spending a few moments on the online scheduling page. The practice also offers concierge services and house calls, including visits to residential senior care facilities.