Diabetes awareness month is when we join our community to bring attention to diabetes, increase awareness of the impact of diabetes, and provide information about the detection and management of the disease.
According to the CDC, over 37 million Americans are living with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic health condition. When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should. When insulin isn’t working, or there isn’t enough of it, too much blood sugar builds up in your bloodstream. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to other health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, or vision loss.
There are Three Types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes – With type one diabetes your body doesn’t produce sufficient amounts of insulin. For people with type 1 diabetes, daily insulin injections may be used to control symptoms and prevent damage caused by an exceedingly high glucose level in the blood.
Gestational Diabetes – This type of diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. It usually goes away after your baby is born, however, it does increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Type 2 Diabetes – With type two diabetes your body doesn’t use the insulin it produces as well as it should. This type of diabetes develops over many years and can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle choices. Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing Type-2 diabetes.
Don’t Ignore Diabetes
Diabetes increases your risk of:
- Kidney failure
- Vision loss
- Loss of toes or feet
- Stroke
- Heart disease
You can learn to thrive despite having diabetes talk to your family doctor about the best way to treat your diabetes. Medications are available to help you manage your diabetes, and a well-balanced healthy diet is essential. Weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight is also very important, as is a daily routine that includes healthy physical activity and exercise. If you need help with a healthy diet plan, consider making an appointment with a nutritionist.
If you are concerned about your risk for diabetes talk to your doctor. Type 2 Diabetes can be managed and to some degree, prevented. A simple blood test is used to determine if you have diabetes.
While some people find that they have no symptoms and their lives are not significantly impacted by their diabetes, others struggle from day-to-day attempts to gain control of their disease for better health. At River Bend Medical Associates, we are dedicated to educating our patients about diabetes and diabetes treatments, how to prevent the disease, and how to manage it. Our healthcare approach emphasizes kindness, friendliness, and respect in communicating with our patients. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or suspect you may have it, please call our family practice or go to the “Contact Us” page here on our website for more information about how River Bend Medical Associates can help.
