What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-term disease that affects how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). There are different types of diabetes, all of which cause high blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetes
In Type 1 diabetes, your body attacks the cells in your pancreas that make insulin, which is the hormone your body needs to use glucose as energy. This causes glucose to accumulate in your blood while your cells go without fuel.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a preventable condition that occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin properly. This is the most common type of diabetes.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a potentially reversible condition that happens when your blood sugar is higher than it should be, but not high enough to diagnose diabetes.
How do I know if I have diabetes?
Symptoms of diabetes vary based on how high your blood sugar is. Diabetes symptoms often include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Hunger and weight loss
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Vision problems
- Slow-healing wounds
Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes can go on for several years before you notice symptoms. But high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels and nerves, even if you don’t have symptoms. That’s why it’s important to see your physician at Mez, Tan, & Sarante for routine preventive care appointments.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Your provider at Mez, Tan, & Sarante may discover elevated blood sugar during a diabetes screening test, such as an A1C blood test. This test doesn’t require fasting and shows your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months.
Other tests for diabetes include:
- Fasting blood sugar test
- Glucose tolerance test
- Random blood sugar test
If you have diabetes symptoms that come on suddenly, your provider may test for Type 1 diabetes.
How is diabetes treated?
After the type of diabetes you have is determined, the team at Mez, Tan, & Sarante develops an individualized treatment plan to control your blood sugar and prevent complications. Depending on your needs, treatment may include:
- Taking insulin or other medications
- Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly
- Monitoring your blood sugar
If you think you may have diabetes, call Mez, Tan, & Sarante, or book an appointment online today.
