What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition in which your body doesn’t regulate sugar in your blood the way it’s supposed to. High blood sugar can lead to serious medical problems, which is why early detection and treatment is crucial. If you’re at risk of diabetes or exhibit symptoms, see Dr. Khan and the Millennium Park Medical Associates team for screening.
What are the different types of diabetes?
Different types of diabetes exist, including:
Type 1 diabetes
With Type 1 diabetes, which often develops during childhood, your body doesn’t make enough insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin, but it either doesn’t make enough or the cells in your body can’t use it properly. Type 2 diabetes usually develops later in life.
Latent autoimmune diabetes
With latent autoimmune diabetes, your pancreas stops producing enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. Many people with this condition develop it after age 30.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It may go away after delivery, but it increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes
With prediabetes, you experience high blood sugar that’s not high enough to classify as diabetes. Prediabetes can turn into diabetes over time if it’s left untreated.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Some common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Frequent infections
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
- Increases in urination and thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Irritability
Complications associated with untreated diabetes can include problems with your eyes, hearing, kidneys, nerves, heart, and feet, as well as depression and dementia.
What are the risk factors for diabetes?
Some common risk factors associated with diabetes include:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol
- High triglycerides
- Obesity
- Inactivity
- Family history of diabetes
- Older age
- Gestational diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome in women
Healthy lifestyle habits can drastically reduce your chance of developing Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, and you may even be able to reverse prediabetes.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
When you arrive at Millennium Park Medical Associates, your internal medicine specialist discusses your symptoms and medical history. They complete a physical exam and use a blood test to screen you for diabetes.
How is diabetes treated?
Diabetes treatment available at Millennium Park Medical Associates include:
- Nutritional consultations
- Diet and exercise changes
- Diabetes counseling
- Meal planning
- Blood glucose self-monitoring
- Oral diabetes medications
- Insulin injections
- Combinations of lifestyle and medical treatments
Your provider personalizes diabetes treatment to keep blood sugar under control and prevent serious complications.
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or are at risk of developing it, schedule an appointment with Millennium Park Medical Associates by phone or online today.
