Diabetes

Living with diabetes can be challenging, but it’s much easier when you know how to manage the condition. Ginger Darty, NP, and the team at Wellness Care Clinic, LLC in Cahokia, Illinois, help men, women, and children with diabetes keep their blood sugar under control through a combination of diet, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes or are looking for a new primary care doctor to help you manage your diabetes, schedule an appointment by calling the office or requesting one online today. 

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body processes food and converts it to energy. Most of the food you eat is turned into sugar, or glucose, which is your body’s main source of energy.

In order for glucose to energize your body, insulin takes excess glucose from your bloodstream and deposits it into your cells. When your body doesn’t use insulin properly, or if your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, too much of your glucose doesn’t reach your cells and instead builds up in your bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar.

High blood sugar can damage your pancreas and blood vessels, resulting in a range of potential health problems, including strokes, heart attacks, nerve damage, and vision loss. Diabetes treatment focuses on regulating your blood sugar levels.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The two most common forms of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2:

Type 1 diabetes

In type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, because it most commonly affects children and adolescents, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown, but genetics likely play a role.

Type 2 diabetes

In Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, the body does not use insulin properly. It’s possible to develop diabetes at any age, though it most commonly affects people aged 45 or older. Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, and a family history of the disease.

Warning signs and symptoms common to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst or hunger
• Constant fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Numbness in your hands and feet
• Blurred vision

If you have these symptoms, along with any risk factors for developing diabetes, schedule an appointment with Wellness Care Clinic, LLC right away.

How is diabetes treated?

There is no cure for diabetes, but it’s possible to manage the disease and avoid most complications. 

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to administer insulin through injections or a pump and regularly measure your blood sugar levels using a meter. Your Wellness Care Clinic, LLC provider will help you with this process, including learning how much insulin you need after eating certain foods.

You may be able to control your Type 2 diabetes through a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight loss. Your provider will guide you on how to manage your Type 2 diabetes, including what you should and shouldn’t eat. They may also prescribe medication to control your blood sugar level.

To get help managing your diabetes, call Wellness Care Clinic, LLC, or request an appointment online today.