Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in America. The good news? Diabetes is also one of the most manageable.
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or want to understand your risk better, our team of primary care providers (PCP) helps break it down.
Here’s everything you need to know about diabetes, courtesy of Select Family Practice and Urgent Care in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Diabetes is an endocrine disorder that affects the way your body turns food into energy. Typically, your body converts most of the food you eat into glucose (sugar) and releases it into your bloodstream.
Your body then uses insulin (made in your pancreas) to transport sugar from your bloodstream into your cells for use as energy.
If you have diabetes, though, your body doesn’t use insulin properly (Type 2) or make enough (Type 1). That means glucose doesn’t move properly into your cells, and too much remains circulating in your blood. That’s why you often hear about your blood sugar levels.
Chronic high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and nerves.
There are several types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops when your body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells. Of the 38.4 million Americans with diabetes, only 2 million have Type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and often develops due to insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy and usually goes away after delivery.
Diabetes can develop slowly, and symptoms might be easy to miss. Watch for signs like:
If you notice these symptoms, call us for a checkup. We may recommend an A1C test, a fasting blood sugar test, and a glucose tolerance test to confirm (or rule out) diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is typically caused by genetic and environmental factors. There's no known way to prevent it.
Type 2 diabetes is largely driven by lifestyle factors, including:
Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are the two biggest modifiable risk factors for diabetes, and they both contribute to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when your body's cells become less responsive to insulin, causing your blood sugar levels to rise.
Sudden weight loss can be a symptom of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes — so how can both be true?
Excess body fat indeed makes it more difficult for your body to use insulin effectively. Once diagnosed, diabetes can lead to weight loss or weight gain, depending on how well it’s managed.
Uncontrolled diabetes often causes unintended weight loss. That happens because your body can’t use glucose properly, so it breaks down fat and muscle for energy. Certain medications, such as insulin, may cause weight gain.
The bottom line: It’s worth noting any sudden weight changes.
At Select Family Practice and Urgent Care, we offer personalized diabetes management plans to help manage all types of diabetes, as well as prediabetes. Your treatment might include:
Healthy eating, regular exercise, weight management, and quitting smoking are cornerstones of diabetes management.
Not sure where to start with diet? Consider using the Diabetes Plate Method, recommended by the American Diabetes Association. Fill half of your plate with a non-starchy vegetable, one-quarter of your plate with lean protein, and the final quarter with a complex carbohydrate.
These lifestyle changes can also help reverse a prediabetes diagnosis.
You can do this with a traditional finger-stick glucose monitor or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which provides real-time readings throughout the day.
You may need oral medications or insulin therapy depending on your blood sugar levels and diabetes type.
At Select Family Practice and Urgent Care, we help you manage your condition with compassion and confidence, whether that’s answering questions, adjusting treatment, or supporting your health goals.
Questions? Call us at 919-676-0202 or request your appointment online today.
