Diabetes Care Specialist

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease affecting metabolism. It causes you to have high levels of glucose, a type of sugar, in your blood. With too much glucose in the bloodstream, you’re at risk of developing various types of organ and tissue damage.

You get too much sugar in your bloodstream because diabetes affects a hormone called insulin, which is responsible for transferring glucose from your bloodstream into your cells to use for energy. The way the disease affects your insulin depends on the type of diabetes you have:

Type 1 diabetes

With Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t make any insulin. It’s an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack the cells in the pancreas that normally make insulin. 

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops over time as your body becomes resistant to insulin. It’s usually due to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors and has an association with being overweight.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes but is only present during pregnancy before going away after you give birth. It does increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, though.

Prediabetes is a diagnosis you might get before you develop Type 2 diabetes. You can reverse it by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle plan.

What is diabetes care?

Diabetes care refers to the ongoing services you receive to manage diabetes and avoid complications like ulcers, neuropathy, and blindness. While everyone with Type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin to replace the insulin they don’t have, not everyone with Type 2 diabetes does.

Dr. Pandya and the team advise everyone with diabetes, no matter the type, to make healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle. If you’re overweight or obese, weight management services at Preferred Medical Center can help you avoid diabetes complications. In some cases, making changes can help you avoid medications for Type 2 diabetes. 

But if they do not, you may take medications for diabetes, including drugs besides insulin that help lower your blood sugar. 

What are some signs I might need diabetes care?

Most people with Type 1 diabetes get their diagnosis early in life, during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes tends to show up later in life, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the possible signs and symptoms. 

Early signs and symptoms of any type of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger 
• Increased urination
• A decline in vision
• Weight loss
• Extreme fatigue
• Sores that take a long time to heal
• Numbness throughout the body

If you experience symptoms like these or any new symptoms, Dr. Pandya and the team encourage you to visit Preferred Medical Center for a sick visit or bring up the unusual changes in well-being during your next physical exam. 

Schedule an appointment for diabetes care over the phone or online at Preferred Medical Center today, or walk in at any time for a same-day visit.