Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that develops when your body doesn’t make or use insulin correctly. Insulin is a hormone produced in your pancreas that helps convert glucose — blood sugar — into energy. When your blood glucose levels are consistently too high, it can lead to a variety of health issues, such as neuropathy, kidney disease, and blindness. 

There are three prevalent types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, and this type typically emerges in childhood. 

Your diet and exercise habits highly influence type 2 diabetes. It leads to changes in the way your body uses insulin, which is called insulin resistance. 

Gestational diabetes affects some women, starting in their second trimester of pregnancy, and is due to a hormone produced by the placenta that interferes with how you use insulin. 

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Like many diseases, diabetes might not cause any symptoms in its early stages. However, if you have Type 1 diabetes or your Type 2 diabetes is progressing, you may develop symptoms including:

• Increased thirst and hunger
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Numbness or tingling in your feet or hands
• Sores that don’t heal

If you have any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment at Northside Primary Care, Inc. Additionally, you should have routine blood work to monitor your glucose, as increased blood sugar is often an early indicator of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. 

How is diabetes treated?

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to take insulin because your body doesn’t make it. However, if you have prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes, chances are the team at Northside Primary Care, Inc can help you control your glucose with personalized lifestyle medicine. 

The food you consume affects you physically and emotionally. Many Americans are addicted to food, which is troublesome because they need food to live. Dr. Syed and the team can help you change your mindset about food and introduce exercise into your daily routine. 

However, they understand that sustained change is challenging. They offer a comprehensive approach that includes cognitive behavioral therapy to help you repair your relationship with food and dietary guidance to help you develop healthy eating habits to lose weight, if needed, and regulate your blood sugar.

If you’re concerned about diabetes and are looking for a natural approach to diabetes management, call Northside Primary Care, Inc, or request an appointment online today.