What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when your blood glucose (blood sugar) is too high. Your body creates a hormone called insulin that moves glucose from the foods you eat from your blood to your cells for energy. Sugar accumulates in the bloodstream of people with diabetes.
Over time, having high blood glucose levels leads to other health conditions including heart disease or kidney disease. While there is no cure for diabetes, the Medico team helps you manage blood sugar levels and reduce risks for complications.
What is diabetic care?
Managing diabetes requires a comprehensive diabetes treatment plan and lifelong diabetic care. The team at Medico educates you on the latest medical therapies, diabetes treatments, and healthy lifestyle choices.
Each person receives a customized diabetes treatment plan which may include a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. The medical team recommends adopting healthier practices where necessary, such as giving up alcohol and smoking, increasing exercise, managing stress, and improving your diet.
Depending on which type of diabetes you have, you may also require insulin to manage blood glucose levels, or other medicines to reduce potential diabetes side effects including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?
You should ask for blood sugar testing if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of diabetes:
- Frequent urination at night
- Always thirsty
- Excessively dry skin
- Get frequent infections
- Lose weight without trying
- Experience blurry vision
- Tingling hands or feet
- Sores that heal slowly
- Are hungry frequently
Since diabetes may lead to other health complications, it is essential to get a diagnosis at the first sign of the disease so you can begin diabetic care as soon as possible.
What are the types of diabetes?
There are four types of diabetes:
Pre-diabetes
If your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be but not quite into diabetic range, you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means you are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. People can often reverse the effects by eating a strict, healthy diet and maintaining an exercise regime.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes typically develops during childhood as an autoimmune disorder. If you have Type 1 diabetes your pancreas no longer produces insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
When your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or stops responding to insulin appropriately, you have Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, usually developing in adults.
Gestational
If you gain too much weight during your pregnancy, you may develop gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is only diagnosed in pregnant women.
If you suspect you have diabetes or it’s been more than a year since you’ve visited the doctor, use the online form to schedule an appointment, or call Medico for an appointment for diabetes testing.
