Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of chronic illnesses characterized by high blood glucose (blood sugar). Everyone needs some glucose to survive, but too much increases the risk of neuropathy (nerve damage), heart disease, and premature death.

Though there’s no cure for diabetes, with early intervention and treatment it’s possible to manage. Healthy lifestyle changes like losing weight and quitting smoking can help keep your blood sugar levels in check.

What are the types of diabetes?

At Mountainside Medical Clinic, Liban treats all types of diabetes, including:

Prediabetes

Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are consistently high but not high enough to become diabetes. If caught early, it’s possible to reverse prediabetes through conservative treatments like eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune condition that causes your body to attack the cells in your pancreas responsible for producing insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose throughout your body. Treatment for type 1 diabetes, typically involves insulin therapy.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in your pancreas become insulin resistant. This means your pancreas produces insulin, but your muscles, fat, and liver don’t use it properly. Over time, your pancreas produces more insulin to compensate, causing your blood sugar to spike. 

Treatment of type 2 diabetes usually includes prescription medication and healthy lifestyle changes.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy. As your fetus grows, your body releases additional hormones for support and protection. Experts aren’t sure why, but these additional hormones can make your cells resistant to insulin. Gestational diabetes typically resolves once you give birth.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

To diagnose diabetes, Liban conducts a physical exam, reviews your medical history, and orders a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. An A1C test measures your average blood sugar level over several months. Any results of 6.5% or higher indicate that you have diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?

Treatment of diabetes depends on the type and the severity of your symptoms. If you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, Liban might recommend losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating a nutritious diet. You might also benefit from prescription medication and regular blood sugar monitoring.  

If you have type 1 diabetes, Liban prescribes insulin therapy. Insulin therapy helps keep your blood sugar within a healthy range. Throughout the day, you inject prescription insulin into your body using a syringe or insulin pen.

To learn more about the treatment of diabetes, request a consultation at Mountainside Medical Clinic. Book online to schedule an appointment or call the office to speak with a team member today.