Our Services / Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body processes sugar or glucose. In a healthy body, the endocrine system produces the insulin hormone to convert sugar into the energy you need to function. When you have diabetes, the process doesn’t work as it should.

There are different types of diabetes, including:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes develops when your body doesn’t make insulin to control your blood sugar. A diagnosis most often occurs in childhood.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at healthy levels, or it doesn’t use the insulin it makes properly. Type 2 diabetes often results from a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes describes high blood sugar levels that develop during pregnancy. The condition resolves after the baby is born but raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. If you have this condition, your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes is significant.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Type 2 diabetes often causes no symptoms until the disease progresses. For that reason, you should schedule routine blood testing with your MIG endocrinology provider if you have a family history of diabetes. Blood testing allows them to assess your blood sugar levels.

You should also schedule a diagnostic evaluation for diabetes if you experience:

• Blurry vision

• Dry, itchy skin

• Chronic fatigue

• Frequent urination

• Extreme hunger or thirst

• Slow-healing wounds

If you have tingling in your hands or feet, it may be a sign that diabetes is causing damage to your peripheral nerves. These nerves provide sensation to parts of your body outside of your brain and spinal cord.

How is diabetes treated?

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to take daily insulin to keep your blood sugar levels under control.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your condition with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and other lifestyle changes. When these conservative methods aren’t enough, you may need to take medication or insulin.

You also need to test your blood sugar levels at home several times a day and schedule routine check-ups with your MIG endocrinology specialist.

To schedule a diabetes consultation, contact a Midsouth Independent Group provider today.