Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes causes your blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. There are several types of diabetes, but Types 1 and 2 are the most common.

While most of the attention surrounding diabetes is on blood sugar levels, insulin plays a major role in this complex condition. Your cells require insulin, a hormone produced in your pancreas, to metabolize glucose, which the cells use as energy.

When you have Type 2 diabetes, your pancreas is producing insulin, but your cells don’t use it properly. This is called insulin resistance, which leads to too much glucose in your bloodstream. Over time, elevated blood glucose causes significant damage to the blood vessels that nourish your organs, nerves, and other tissue structures in your body.

In the case of Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas is not producing any insulin, or only very small amounts. This means your cells can’t absorb the glucose present in your bloodstream.

How does diabetes affect my overall health?

The list of possible health complications related to diabetes is long and includes:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney dysfunction and failure (nephropathy)
• Nerve damage (neuropathy)
• Eye damage (retinopathy) and vision loss
• Hearing impairment
• Alzheimer's disease

Controlling your blood sugar levels and otherwise successfully managing your diabetes greatly reduces these risks. In some cases, Type 2 diabetes may even go into remission when you follow an effective treatment strategy.

What is the treatment for diabetes?

The general goal of diabetes treatment is to normalize blood sugar levels and prevent complications associated with diabetes. The type and severity of your diabetes, however, typically influence your treatment plan.  

Type 1 diabetes, for instance, requires insulin injections to replace the hormone your pancreas is unable to produce. It may be possible, however, to effectively manage Type 2 diabetes without medication. Both types of diabetes require:

• A healthy nutrition plan that limits sugary foods and saturated fats
• Increased physical activity
• Weight loss when necessary.

Effective treatment also includes routine lab studies to monitor your long-term blood sugar control and other factors related to diabetes. The team at Brandon Riverview Medical Associates also offers diabetic education that includes practical guidelines and ongoing support for managing your diabetes.

Take control of your diabetes and your overall health. Call Brandon Riverview Medical Associates today to schedule an appointment or book your visit online.