What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting your blood glucose, or blood sugar. It’s associated with high levels of sugar in your blood, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Uncontrolled diabetes is associated with nerve damage, kidney damage, heart problems, vision or hearing impairments, and more.
Type 1 diabetes
With type 1 diabetes your body doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that helps move sugar from your blood into cells within the body. Type 1 diabetes often develops during childhood.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes you make insulin but your body doesn’t respond to it properly. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people over 40.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is the beginning stage of diabetes, but it’s often reversible with weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and may go away after delivery.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The following symptoms may indicate type 1 or type 2 diabetes:
- Frequent urination
- Extreme hunger or thirst
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Frequent infections
- Slow-healing sores
- Blurry vision
You might not notice symptoms at all if you have diabetes or prediabetes, which is why routine diabetes screening is so important.
What are the risk factors for diabetes?
Diabetes develops due to genetics or lifestyle habits. Factors that increase your risk of developing diabetes include:
- Being overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Family history of diabetes
- Older age
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol or high triglycerides
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome in women
If you have one or more of these diabetes risk factors, the LCT Medical team might recommend a diabetes screening test to determine if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
How is diabetes treated?
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, your provider discusses treatment options after a thorough review of your medical history, a physical exam, and a blood test. Examples of diabetes treatments include:
Lifestyle changes
Making lifestyle changes can reverse prediabetes or help to control blood sugar if you have diabetes. Losing weight, getting regular exercise, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and keeping stress levels low can help.
Medications
Oral medications help control blood sugar and reduce complications associated with diabetes.
Insulin injections
You may require insulin injections if your body doesn’t make enough insulin on its own.
Diabetes complication treatments
If you have a complication of diabetes, such as kidney or heart problems, your provider lets you know which treatment best matches your needs. You’ll be referred to a qualified specialist if necessary.
Don’t let diabetes ruin your quality of life when simple treatments are available at LCT Medical. Make an appointment by phone or online today.
