Diabetes
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Med South Primary Care
Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, and Physician Assistant located in Stockbridge, GA
Over 34 million US residents suffer from diabetes, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ira C. Robinson II, MD, and the team at Med South Primary Care in Stockbridge, Georgia, know the risks that diabetes poses to your health. They value their relationships with their patients by delivering expert care that extends beyond medication. At Med South Primary Care, Dr. Robinson and his team offer comprehensive care plans that include changes in your lifestyle and diet, as well as medication to best suit your needs. Call the office today, or schedule an appointment online to learn more.
Diabetes Q&A
What is diabetes?
A chronic condition, diabetes raises your risk of heart disease, stroke, even limb loss.
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels are the primary cause of diabetes. Your pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that carries the glucose (sugar) from the food you eat and transfers it to your cells, where it’s used for energy.
If your body can’t make insulin on its own, or it doesn’t use the hormone efficiently, glucose can build up in your blood and cause diabetes.
Are there different types of diabetes?
There are several types of diabetes, but the two main types are:
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes causes your immune system to attack the cells in the pancreas that create insulin. Because your body can’t make insulin on its own, you must take regular insulin injections to control your blood sugar levels.
Most people learn they have Type 1 diabetes while they’re children.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it efficiently.
By far, the most common form of diabetes, Type 2 typically develops during middle age. Certain things can raise your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, including being obese, eating a poor diet, and being physically inactive.
Another common type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which happens to women during pregnancy but typically goes away once you give birth.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
You might not know that you have diabetes until you show up for your annual physical with the Med South Primary Care team. Diabetes can be difficult to notice until your blood sugar becomes uncontrollable.
Some of the most common warning signs to watch out for include:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
- Slow-healing sores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blurred vision
Diabetes also increases your risk of infection. If you struggle with repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs), the elevated sugar levels in your blood can affect your body’s ability to fight them off.
How do doctors treat diabetes?
No matter what type you have, a healthy diet and regular exercise are important elements of any diabetes treatment plan. While you must take insulin if you have Type 1 diabetes, a low-glycemic diet can help you manage your blood sugar levels.
If you suffer from either Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes — high blood sugar levels that haven’t yet turned into diabetes — a healthy diet is all-important to your health. Not only can a low-sugar diet reduce your blood sugar levels, but it can also help you lose weight.
Diet and lifestyle modifications might not be enough to lower your blood sugar levels. Fortunately, when combined with healthy habits, certain medications can help manage your blood sugar and keep your diabetes symptoms at bay.
To schedule an appointment with an experienced physician, call Med South Primary Care, or book a visit online today.
