Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects your metabolism. It occurs when you produce too little or no insulin––a hormone that shuttles sugar from your blood into your cells for energy or storage––or your body improperly uses what insulin it does produce. This causes your blood levels of insulin to be too high, resulting in damage to blood vessels and internal organs.

Diabetes isn’t one disease, but a collection of types, including:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that occurs when your body attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. Usually diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood, it requires daily insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes do produce some insulin, but it’s not enough or doesn’t properly move the sugar from your blood into your cells. This type of diabetes can develop at any age, but most often occurs in adults.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and resolves after you give birth. Having gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. 

If your blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough for a full-blown diabetes diagnosis, you may have prediabetes. You’re likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you don’t manage your condition with diet, exercise, and weight loss if needed. 

Of the cases of diabetes in the United States, 90-95% are type 2. 

How do I know if I have diabetes?

With type 1 diabetes, symptoms such as unexpected weight loss, frequent need to urinate, and dramatic increases in hunger and thirst usually come on suddenly.

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes have symptoms that come on so gradually that you may not even notice. Regular blood tests check your blood sugar levels, which is why it’s important to come to Grace Family Medicine Direct Primary Care of Wellington for annual exams.

These evaluations are particularly important if you have one or more risk factors for diabetes, such as:

• Family history
• Overweight or obese
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor diet

Lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthy diet or starting an exercise program, greatly discourage the development of type 2 diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?

The team at Grace Family Medicine Direct Primary Care of Wellington takes a holistic and integrative approach to your diabetes care. An individualized care plan may include:

• Dietary changes
• Increased physical activity
• Medication (insulin)

If you’re overweight, a plan for weight loss also helps you manage diabetes symptoms and prevent complications.

For expert diabetes management from providers who give you the time and compassion you deserve, contact Grace Family Medicine Direct Primary Care of Wellington by phone or use the online tool to book an appointment.