Diabetes
The total number of people living with diabetes is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030. Side Health™ is here to provide you with information on its definition, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
Diabetes is a disorder that affects how your body uses sugar. Your body breaks down sugar and takes it into your cells by using insulin.
Insulin is made by your pancreas which is an organ in your stomach. With diabetes, you stop producing enough insulin which leads to sugar circulating in the blood and building up places it should not.
Type 1 Diabetes
The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is not yet known, but what we do know is your immune system tries to destroy your insulin-producing cells. This leaves you with very little or no insulin to bring sugar into your cells.
Risk factors include:
– Close family members with Type 1 diabetes
– Environmental factors such as exposure to viruses
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and occurs when your cells become resistant to insulin and your pancreas cannot make enough insulin to compensate for the resistance. Being overweight or obese is linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes, but not everyone who has this disorder is overweight.
Risk factors include:
– Lifestyle factors such as inactivity and unhealthy eating can lead to weight gain which increases the risk of developing diabetes
– Close family members with Type 2 diabetes
Prediabetes
It is usually determined that a patient has prediabetes when your blood sugar is elevated, but not enough to be considered in the range of diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs when you are pregnant. While pregnant, your placenta may produce hormones that make your cells more resistant to insulin. Your pancreas usually responds by producing more insulin, but it may not be able to keep up with your body’s demands. Those with gestational diabetes are at a greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Risk factors include:
– Have had a prior pregnancy with gestational diabetes
– Are overweight or obese
– Are over 25
– Have family members with diabetes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Symptoms that occur may include:
Random blood sugar test
This will measure how much sugar (glucose) is in your blood. This can be drawn at whatever time of day, regardless of when you last ate or drank.
Fasting blood sugar test
A blood sample may be drawn to check your blood sugar while fasting. You must avoid eating 8 -12 hours prior to this test, so it is typically drawn in the morning after fasting overnight.
Oral glucose tolerance test
This test checks your blood sugar level before and multiple times after consuming a specific amount of a sugary drink provided. This test is usually performed in pregnant women.
Hemoglobin A1C
An A1C is a single blood test that measures your average glucose over the course of 3 months. For most patients, the goal for A1C is less than 7 (an estimated average glucose of ~154 mg/dL).
Treatments
Lifestyle changes are extremely important in helping to prevent and treat diabetes.
Healthy eating choices including eating more lean proteins (chicken breast, egg white, tuna etc.), vegetables, whole grains, and fruits are very helpful in reducing weight and controlling sugar levels.
Physical activity from aerobic exercises is recommended. Even if you do not lose weight from exercising, it helps in your body’s response to insulin which helps reduce your blood sugar.
Medications (both pills and injectable) are also often used in the treatment of diabetes. Metformin is a very common oral medication used. Insulin is a type of injectable medication that is used in all patients with Type 1 diabetes and in some patients with Type 2 diabetes to replace the insulin that the body can not provide.
Remote Patient Monitoring Device
A glucometer with remote patient monitoring can allow your doctor to receive your blood sugar level readings in real-time. Your device will record your blood sugar levels and send the results to your doctor to better monitor and treat your diabetes.
Contact us to get treatment and learn more about these devices!
When to pay your doctor a visit?
Diabetes can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for patients – our team is here to help!