What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which there’s too much glucose, or sugar, in your blood. It occurs when your pancreas produces little to no insulin, or when your body does not respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps get glucose from your blood into your cells to provide energy to your body, and without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. Too much glucose in your blood can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys, and nerves, and can eventually result in blindness or the need for dialysis or amputation. There are two types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes
Usually diagnosed in children and young adults, type 1 diabetes was previously known as “juvenile diabetes.” With type 1 diabetes, your body does not produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
Also called “adult-onset diabetes,” this is the most common form of diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. What is prediabetes? Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes. It occurs when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially in the heart and circulatory system, may already occur during prediabetes. There are two different tests used to determine whether you have prediabetes: the fasting glucose test and the oral glucose tolerance test. The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism, or whether you have prediabetes or diabetes. It’s important to diagnose prediabetes early so that diabetes prevention measures can start quickly.
What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem harmless. Recent studies indicate that early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing some of the major complications that accompany diabetes. Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
- Frequent urination
- Unusual thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Extreme fatigue and irritability
Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms. If they do experience symptoms, they might include any of the type 1 diabetes symptoms, as well as others, such as:
- Frequent infections
- Blurred vision
- Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
How is diabetes treated?
Depending on what type of diabetes you have, treatment can include blood sugar monitoring, insulin, or oral medications. Controlling blood sugar helps prevent serious problems that can be caused by diabetes. Therefore, changes like sticking to a diabetic diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity are important factors in managing diabetes. Dr. Isaacs offers expert diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, prediabetes, and insulin resistance.
Treating diabetes means more than managing blood sugar. Comprehensive diabetes management includes treatment of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
