Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes encompasses several forms of disease that result in unhealthy blood glucose levels. The condition develops when insulin (a hormone made by your pancreas) isn't present in high enough quantities to manage your blood glucose levels.

Blood glucose (sugar) is essential to life, providing the energy your muscles and tissues need and supporting organ function. However, having elevated blood glucose levels for an extended period can lead to serious and wide-ranging complications, including:

• Diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• Leg ulcers
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease)
• Gum disease and other dental problems
• Erectile dysfunction

Diabetes also increases your risk of developing thrush, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and other infections, and even some types of cancer.

Your provider at Montgomery Family Care can diagnose diabetes using tests that measure glucose levels in your blood.

Are there different types of diabetes?

There are several forms of diabetes, including:

Type 1 diabetes

If you have Type 1 diabetes, it means your pancreas can't produce any insulin, so you must take supplementary insulin for life.

Type 2 diabetes

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your pancreas is producing some insulin, but either it's not enough, or your body can't use it effectively. This problem, known as insulin resistance, is typically due to lifestyle factors like being overweight or obese, having a poor diet, and insufficiently exercising.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women when insulin resistance develops in response to certain pregnancy hormones. Gestational diabetes can cause complications like excessive fetal growth but usually resolves shortly after you give birth.

Another condition that's important to know about is prediabetes. This is where your blood glucose levels are high but not quite at the level of full-blown diabetes. Early detection of prediabetes often means you have time to reverse the effects.

How is diabetes treated?

Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy, but prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes might not need medication if you make suitable changes to your lifestyle. Weight loss, a healthy diet, becoming more active, and quitting bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol to excess can all make a significant difference in managing your blood glucose levels.

If your condition is severe, you might need to take medications like metformin to improve blood sugar regulation. You also need to attend regular checkups and tests to monitor your condition and pick up on any consequent deterioration or complications.

For expert help with managing your diabetes, call Montgomery Family Care or book an appointment online today.