What You Need To Know About Diabetes

About 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and numbers seem to be rising. That's why proper diabetes education is important. Your provider, Florence Odubayo (NP) and Victoria Bassey (NP) of Exceptional Primary & Preventive Healthcare in Silver Spring, MD, will share all you need to know about diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition characterized by your body's inability to take sugar into the cells for energy. It could be due to resistance to the hormone insulin or insufficient insulin production.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes: Known also as Insulin-dependent diabetes, type 1 diabetes develops due to the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Therefore, there's insufficient production of insulin. Type 1 diabetes could affect anyone at any age but is more prevalent in children and young adults.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes develops due to resistance of the target cells to insulin. Therefore, there's insulin produced but it's just not working. Type 2 diabetes typically develops past age 30 in overweight or obese people but could develop in some younger people.

Gestational diabetes: Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women. It could be due to insufficient production of insulin or the action of pregnancy hormones.

Gestational diabetes is usually temporary and goes away at the end of the pregnancy. Kids born to mothers who experienced gestational diabetes might have a higher chance of developing diabetes later in life.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Some of these signs are common to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you're experiencing these signs, you should check in with your health care provider.

  • Frequent urination
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Feeling weak and tired
  • Increased thirst
  • Sores that heal slowly
  • Unexplained infections
  • Tingling and numbness in hands or feet

Managing Diabetes in Silver Spring, MD.

There's no cure for diabetes currently, but you can live a long healthy life with proper management.

Lifestyle changes. Making a few changes to your lifestyle is important if you want to keep your diabetes under control. Changing your lifestyle can also help your provider prevent the progression of your pre-diabetes to diabetes.

These changes include:

  • Weight loss
  • Blood pressure and glucose monitoring
  • Quit smoking
  • Stress management
  • Limit alcohol consumption
  • Eat a healthy diet low in refined carbs

Medication. Your provider can help you manage diabetes with the right medication to control your blood sugar.

Insulin. If you've got type 1 diabetes, taking insulin to replace your deficient hormone is vital.

If you want to learn more about managing diabetes in Silver Spring, MD, call (301) 587-6464 to schedule a consultation with Florence Odubayo (NP) and Victoria Bassey (NP) of Exceptional Primary & Preventive Healthcare in Silver Spring, MD, today.

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