Diabetes Specialist

What is diabetes?

Diabetes impairs your body’s ability to process glucose from the food you eat. When you have this disease, either your body doesn’t produce enough insulin to process the glucose, or your cells are resistant to the insulin. As a result, your blood glucose levels in your blood stay higher than they should.

The three types of diabetes represent the body’s different insulin responses:

• Type 1 diabetes: Your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes: Your pancreas produces an insufficient amount of insulin or processes insulin incorrectly.
• Gestational diabetes: You develop diabetes during pregnancy.
  
  

What causes diabetes?

Researchers haven’t uncovered the cause of type 1 diabetes, but they know your immune system attacks your pancreas so it can’t produce insulin. Environmental exposures and genetic susceptibility may also contribute to your type 1 diabetes risk.

Environmental and genetic factors also seem to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Excess weight is also a substantial contributing factor.

Pregnant women can develop gestational diabetes when the hormones produced by the placenta impair the insulin absorption process in your body. As a result, blood glucose levels remain consistently high.

What are the dangers of diabetes?

Elevated blood levels start to affect the organs and systems throughout your body negatively. If your blood sugar levels aren’t under control, you’re at a higher risk of developing:

• Heart disease or stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems
• Nerve damage
• Foot problems
• Dental and skin conditions
  
  

What treatment options are available for diabetes?

Diabetes treatment involves a combination of healthy lifestyle habits and medication to regulate your blood sugar levels. Each type of diabetes requires a specific approach.

Type 1 diabetes

When you have type 1 diabetes, you require lifelong insulin therapy. You must monitor your blood sugar levels, and adjust your diet to keep your levels within a healthy range.

Type 2 diabetes

You may be able to prevent and control type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise. You may also require medication to help regulate your insulin levels.

Gestational diabetes

If you develop gestational diabetes, you must pay close attention to the food you eat while pregnant. Exercise and monitoring your glucose also help you regulate blood sugar levels.

Dr. Horton provides diabetes management services at Alpha Internal Medicine, and the convenience of in-house lab testing so you can have all your treatments done under one roof. Call or book an appointment online to learn more about this and other services.