All forms of diabetes are serious and have grave consequences if you don’t treat them. At Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness in Bowie, Maryland, the team is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. After a diagnosis, you’ll likely have many questions, and the team is adept at helping you understand your disease and developing a personalized treatment plan for you. Call the office or schedule an appointment online to get individualized diabetes care today.
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar levels are too high. Your body uses blood sugar, also known as glucose, as a source of energy to function.
Your pancreas produces a hormone called insulin to put the glucose from your food into your muscle and tissue cells. If your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, the sugar stays in your blood and cannot be used by your muscles.
The three most common forms of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. These three types of diabetes function differently and have different causes.
Type 1 diabetes is most commonly diagnosed during adolescence. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your body’s immune system destroys the cells that make insulin in your pancreas, so you do not produce the hormone at all. This causes your blood sugar to build up to high levels.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and is often associated with being overweight, but being overweight is not a surefire factor to receiving a Type 2 diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes usually develops after age 40. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin, but it doesn’t make enough of the hormone to process the sugars in your blood.
You may have gestational diabetes if you develop the disease while you’re pregnant, as it is caused by the hormones that your body produces while you are pregnant. In most cases, it goes away after your pregnancy ends.
If you’re overweight, over the age of 45, or are prediabetic, your provider at Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness screens you for diabetes regularly. Not everyone notices symptoms at first, but you may notice some changes before you have a screening.
Symptoms of types 1 and 2 diabetes can include:
If you don’t notice any symptoms, your provider at Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness determines if diabetes screening is necessary during your annual physical exam.
There are several available treatments for diabetes. The team at Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness plans your treatment based on your medical history and your type of diabetes.
Common treatments for diabetes include:
Treatments for all types of diabetes aim to control your blood sugar levels. You’ll need to visit Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness for regular check-ups so your physician can monitor your progress and make changes in your treatment plan if necessary.
The team at Nu Pathway Healthcare and Wellness is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of diabetes. Call or schedule an appointment online for a screening or to learn more about your treatment options.
