What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition in which your blood sugar levels are too high. When you eat certain types of foods that contain carbohydrates, such as bread, fruit, and milk, your body breaks them down and turns them into glucose, or sugar, which your body uses as a source of energy. 

Under normal circumstances, the hormone insulin helps get the sugar in your blood into your cells to supply the energy. If you have diabetes, however, your body can’t get the sugar into the cells because you’re either not making enough insulin or the insulin isn’t working properly. 

What are the types of diabetes?

The types of diabetes include:

Type 1 diabetes

Your body isn’t making insulin because the cells responsible for making it in your pancreas have been destroyed. This occurs most often in children and teens.

Type 2 diabetes

Insulin can’t get the sugar into the cells, and your body becomes less sensitive to the insulin it’s producing. This type most often occurs in adults and can be related to your lifestyle.

Gestational diabetes

This type of diabetes means you have high blood sugar during pregnancy and can indicate an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes in the future.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. Carrying excess weight increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

How do I know if I have diabetes?

Symptoms that may indicate you have diabetes include:

• Rapid and unexplained weight loss
• Intense hunger and thirst
• Tingling in your hands or feet
• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Feeling tired
• Wounds or bruises slow to heal
• Blurry vision

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, schedule an appointment so the team at We Care Clinic can check your blood sugar and give you a physical examination.

How can I manage my diabetes?

The team at We Care Clinic develops a personalized treatment plan to help you manage your diabetes. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you’ll need daily insulin to control your blood sugar. 

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your treatment may include dietary changes that help you lower your blood sugar naturally and keep it well-controlled. Your provider may also suggest an exercise regimen to increase your daily activity and help you maintain a healthy weight. 

If these changes aren’t enough, you may also need medications to treat Type 2 diabetes. Your provider continues to monitor your diabetes and treatment through routine follow-up visits and blood tests. Their comprehensive diabetes management and counseling services focus on reducing your risk for diabetes-related complications, including vision loss and nerve damage.

Whether you have diabetes or concerns about it, the team at We Care Clinic can help. Call today or book an appointment online.