Diabetes Specialist

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body converts the sugar you get from your diet into the energy you need to stay functional.

In Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough or any of the insulin hormone, which is necessary for the conversion of sugar into energy. As a result, the levels of sugar in your blood remain too high, putting you at risk for serious health issues, including organ damage.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does make insulin, but it’s either not being used properly or it’s not enough. There’s also a condition known as prediabetes, where your sugar levels remain high but not high enough to be considered diabetes.

What are the risk factors for diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder often diagnosed in childhood, but people of any age can develop it. The exact cause of the condition isn’t well understood, but your genetic history may be responsible.

Type 2 diabetes can occur in both children and adults and is often linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices, existing health conditions, and obesity. You may be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes if you:

• Have prediabetes
• Eat a poor diet
• Lack of physical activity
• Have high blood pressure
• Have a family history of the condition

You may also be at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes as you get older.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

The team at Lakeview Family Medicine performs in-office blood tests to evaluate your sugar levels. They can perform routine blood checks as part of your diabetes management plan if you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, your primary care provider may recommend diabetes screenings during your annual checkup to monitor your blood sugar levels if you’re at high risk for the disease due to family history or your health history.

What treatments are available for diabetes?

If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take daily insulin to help control your blood sugar and regularly test your blood at home.

Treating type 2 diabetes may initially involve a change in your lifestyle. The team at Lakeview Family Medicine can offer guidance for improving your diet with dedicated diabetes management and coaching, increasing your exercise, and staying on track for maintaining a healthy weight. If these changes aren’t enough to control your blood sugar, you may also need to take medications.

Schedule a diabetes consultation by calling the office or booking online today.