Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that interferes with the way your body converts glucose — also called blood sugar — into energy. In a healthy body, your pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which helps glucose enter your cells where it’s used as energy. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce enough glucose or doesn’t use it properly.

There are three common types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. It’s due to an autoimmune problem that destroys the cells in your pancreas responsible for insulin production. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood, although the disease can emerge at any age.

Type 2 diabetes develops when your body doesn’t use insulin correctly, which is also referred to as insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is linked to unhealthy lifestyle factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity, and a poor diet. Diabetes usually emerges in adulthood, although it’s becoming increasingly common in adolescents and children.

The third common type of the disease is gestational diabetes. When you’re pregnant, your placenta produces a hormone that can interfere with the way your body uses insulin. Gestational diabetes typically emerges during the second trimester and goes away after you give birth.

What are the warning signs of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes symptoms typically come on fairly quickly, perhaps over several weeks. But with Type 2 diabetes, you might not have any noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages, or you may develop mild symptoms over time.

The symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst and hunger
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Numbness in your hands and feet
• Sores that heal slowly or not at all
• Unexplained weight loss

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially if you have a family history of diabetes, make an appointment at IAM Healthy for an exam and testing.

How can I manage diabetes?

Lifestyle modifications are critical to diabetes management. The team at IAM Healthy can help you adjust your diet to include more vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins, and less sugar, fat, and refined carbohydrates. Adding moderate physical activity to your day, such as a 30-minute brisk walk after a meal, can help your body use insulin more efficiently.

When lifestyle changes aren’t enough to regulate your blood sugar, or if you have Type 1 diabetes, your provider can prescribe insulin.

Call IAM Healthy or make an appointment online today for expert, customized diabetes care.