Preventive Care in Fort Worth, TX
Diabetes is a Common Medical Condition
Did you know that according to the American Diabetes Association, over 9% of the people in the United States are diabetic? If you have diabetes, your doctor can treat and help you manage your diabetes.
How Diabetes Affects You
Diabetes affects most of the major systems in your body, including your immune, circulatory, and nervous systems. When you have diabetes, it can lead to delayed healing, prolonged illnesses, lack of blood flow, nerve pain, and loss of nerve sensation.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes is caused by your pancreas not producing enough insulin to control your blood sugar levels
- Type 2 diabetes develops from a combination of factors including age, weight, age, lack of exercise, and other factors
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
Diabetes can go undiagnosed for years because the signs and symptoms are mild. Common signs and symptoms of diabetes include having:
- Frequent feelings of thirst or hunger
- Chronic fatigue or blurred vision
- Frequent feelings of needing to urinate
- Cuts and other Injuries that heal slowly
How Diabetes is Diagnosed
Diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test. You will typically fast for several hours and then a sample of your blood is taken. The sample is tested to determine the levels of glucose, or sugar, in your blood. Your A1C may be measured, indicating an average of your blood sugar over a 2-to-3-month period.
Treatment of Diabetes
Your treatment will depend on which type of diabetes you have:
Type 1 diabetes is typically treated with a boost of insulin, either from injections, or an insulin pump.
Type 2 diabetes may be managed by diet and exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight is the foundation of controlling blood sugar levels. You need to eat a diet which is low in fat and salt, and exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
For type 2 diabetes, your doctor may also recommend medications to:
- Promote insulin production
- Decrease sugar absorption by your intestine
- Improve insulin usage by your body
- Improve insulin resistance
Want To Know More?
To learn more about the signs, symptoms, treatment, and management of diabetes, call Dr. Amber Rogers in Fort Worth, TX. You can reach her in the office by calling (682) 246-0262, so call today.