Diabetes Care

What is diabetes care?

Diabetes doesn’t allow your body to use glucose (sugar) for energy properly. Insulin, a hormone that the pancreas produces, removes sugar from your blood and directs it into the cells. When you have diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make insulin, or it doesn’t supply a sufficient amount. So glucose builds up in your blood.

High blood sugar damages your blood vessel walls. Health complications like stroke and vision damage can develop as it gets worse. Diabetes care can only work if it’s a partnership between you and the Temecula Medical Group team to manage your blood sugar levels and prevent complications.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

The common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Tingling and numbness in your hands and feet
• Fatigue
• Unintended weight loss
• Slow-healing sores
• Blurred vision

Sores that don’t heal are especially common on the feet, where you can lose sensation. These diabetic wounds can grow and penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. Diabetic foot care is essential to keep your feet healthy.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The three types of diabetes are:

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes happens when your pancreas produces no insulin at all. It’s an autoimmune disease that usually develops during childhood or early adulthood. Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented or cured, only managed.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes most often appears later in life. It’s usually attributed to excess weight, poor diet, and low exercise levels. Type 2 diabetes is preventable.

Gestational diabetes

While gestational diabetes only happens during pregnancy, the condition can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

If your blood sugar levels always remain high but aren’t high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, you have prediabetes. The effects of prediabetes are reversible with diabetic care that includes lifestyle changes.

What treatments are used in diabetes care?

At the Temecula Medical Group, the team takes a multifaceted approach to diabetes treatment. A mix of lifestyle changes and medication is often necessary to manage diabetes. Common diabetes treatments include:

• Following a healthy diet
• Getting more exercise
• Taking medication
• Using an insulin pump or injections
• Quitting smoking
• Monitoring your blood sugar levels

To learn more about diabetes care, call the Temecula Medical Group today or schedule an appointment online.