Terri Ramsey Beavers Diabetes is a group of illnesses where your body doesn’t produce any or enough insulin for your body to use effectively. When this happens, your body is unable to transfer sugar from your blood into the cells, resulting in high blood sugar levels. The lack of glucose – one of the main forms of sugar present in your blood – in your body can cause severe health problems. This article delves into the different types of diabetes and why you should consult Dr. Raj Kandavanam about them.
Diabetes Risk Factors
The numbers show that approximately 30.3 million people in the United States have diabetes, with about 90 to 95 percent of these people having type 2 diabetes. There are multiple risk factors that could increase your chances of joining this statistic, such as:
- Having pre-existing gestational diabetes or prediabetes.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Gaining excess weight.
- Poor diet.
Causes of Diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is commonly believed to be an autoimmune condition. This means that your immune system accidentally damages the beta cells in your pancreas permanently. Generally, type 1 diabetes is mainly triggered by both environmental and genetic factors.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Despite the fact that the main cause of type 2 diabetes is not known, it is believed that the condition begins as insulin resistance. This means that your pancreas is stimulated to produce more insulin that your body cannot put into effective use, resulting in high blood sugar levels. The most common risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
- Obesity.
- Lack of exercise.
- Genetics.
3. Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes only happens during pregnancy due to the production of insulin-resistant hormones.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Usually, type 1 diabetes symptoms such as diabetic ketoacidosis or abnormal weight loss develop more quickly than type 2 diabetes symptoms like numbness or pain in the feet. Nonetheless, the following are some of the common symptoms of all types of diabetes:
- Blurry vision.
- Frequent urination.
- Itchy, dry, skin.
- Excessive hunger and thirst.
- Fatigue or drowsiness.
- Slow-healing wounds.
Diabetes Treatment Options
· Type 1 Diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take the recommended type of insulin since your pancreas is permanently damaged. Your doctor will advise you on how to inject the insulin and rotate the injection regions correctly. You could also use an insulin pump, a device worn outside your body that is programmed only to release the specified dose.
· Type 2 Diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor will first recommend metformin, a medication that helps your body use insulin more productively. However, if the metformin drug is not successful, your doctor will recommend specific diets, exercise, and other medications to help manage your blood sugar level.
Preventing Diabetes
Currently, there are no preventive measures against type 1 diabetes but, you can effectively reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by:
- Managing your diet.
- Exercising frequently.
- Avoiding high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol levels, and smoking.
Conclusion
For any of your diabetes treatments, you should consult with Dr. Kandavanam, MD, at the Lake Family Medicine & Imaging in Sanford, Florida. With his professional expert treatment and diagnosis options, you will be guaranteed a lasting solution to your diabetes problem. To learn more, you can call our office or schedule an online consultation.