Diabetes

DIABETES

Diabetes is a serious chronic health condition that seems to be on the rise in America and around the world. For residents of Irving, Texas, the experienced physicians at V-care offer top-quality prevention, screening, and treatment for diabetes. When you’re ready to learn more, call to book a visit or schedule online in just a few clicks.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by problems converting food into energy. To understand the condition, it helps to think about how your body metabolizes food on a daily basis.

When you consume food, your body converts a portion of that food into glucose, a type of sugar. Glucose travels through your bloodstream to nourish cells throughout your body. In order for glucose to enter cells, a hormone called insulin must be present.

Normally, your pancreas creates all the insulin your body needs. People with type 1 diabetes have an auto-immune condition in which their body mistakenly attacks the pancreas, preventing normal insulin production. It typically develops during childhood.

People with type 2 diabetes either cannot produce sufficient insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin produced. Researchers find that carrying excess weight and obesity are clear links to this common form of diabetes.

Not everyone with diabetes experiences apparent symptoms, and many people live with the condition for years before being properly diagnosed. That’s why you need routine preventive health visits, also called physical exams.

The primary means of diagnosing diabetes involves simple blood work.  It can determine if you have diabetes or if you’re at high risk of developing it.

Symptoms might include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Feeling tired often
  • Slow healing sores
  • Increased hunger or thirst
  • Frequent infections
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Blurry vision

Schedule a diagnostic exam at Vcare immediately if you notice these changes.

 

 If you have type 1 diabetes, you need supplemental insulin for survival. This lifelong therapy can be administered by injections or through a pump or pen system.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you might also need supplemental insulin, depending on how well your body creates and uses natural insulin. Some medications help reduce the volume of blood sugar your liver produces or allow your body to use insulin more effectively.

Some drugs make your tissues more sensitive to insulin or help your kidneys filter more glucose from your blood. You may need a trial-and-error period to determine the right drug therapy for you.

To learn more about diabetes, call Vcare to book a visit or schedule online in just a few clicks.