What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a term used to describe several different conditions. While these conditions may vary in the specifics, they all share one thing in common: Problems with the hormone insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and plays an important role in helping your body store and use fat and sugar from the food that you eat. Diabetes can interrupt this vital process in one of three ways:
- Causing the pancreas to stop producing insulin
- Causing the pancreas to produce too little insulin
- Causing your body to not respond appropriately to insulin
Early detection and proper diagnoses are important to help you get the proper care.
What are the different types of diabetes?
As you may be aware, there are two main classifications for diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. While different, both conditions can be serious.
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, which is usually detected in childhood, your immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of your pancreas, causing you to be unable to produce insulin naturally.
Type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin, but either in insufficient amounts or your body becomes resistant to the insulin. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age.
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy and resolves after giving birth, although it can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Recognizing the symptoms of diabetes is important, as early detection and treatment are vital. Symptoms include:
- Dry mouth
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Labored breathing
Diabetes symptoms often onset quickly and can be quite severe. The symptoms for type 2 diabetes can be similar to type 1, although some people with type 2 will not experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms unique to type 2 diabetes include:
- Itchy skin
- Slow healing sores
- Weight gain
- Yeast infections
- Numbness in the feet or hands
- Impotence
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to seek medical care at the office of Gary E. Goff, MD.
How is diabetes treated?
Fortunately, treatment options are available. For type 1 diabetes, insulin injections are needed to control insulin levels. Type 2 diabetes may also require insulin injection, but certain lifestyle changes can help to make insulin unnecessary in this situation. These changes include:
- Losing weight
- Eating a diabetic friendly diet
- Exercising
- Controlling blood pressure
For expert diabetes diagnosis and treatment, call or go online to schedule an appointment at the office of Gary E. Goff, MD, today.
