More than a third of Americans have diabetes, a chronic disease that interferes with how your body processes blood sugar or glucose. Without proper treatment, diabetes can cause serious complications, like kidney damage, heart disease, or blindness. At Sacred Heart Medical Group PC, Gabriel Oboite, MD, and his team help patients of all ages manage their diabetes through routine testing and custom treatment plans tailored to each person’s unique needs. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or you suspect you have undiagnosed diabetes, call our Greenbelt, Maryland, practice to schedule a visit or book an appointment online.
Diabetes happens when there’s an imbalance between blood sugar (glucose) and insulin, a hormone that plays an important role in regulating glucose and preventing it from “building up.” Elevated glucose levels can cause serious damage to your nerves, blood vessels, and organs, including your kidneys, heart, eyes, and brain.
Researchers believe diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. A third type, gestational diabetes, happens to some women during pregnancy.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that most often develops during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood. In this type, your immune system attacks cells in your pancreas that produce insulin, which means your body isn’t able to produce enough insulin (or any insulin at all).
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when your body doesn’t use insulin the way it’s supposed to. This type of diabetes tends to be more common among adults, especially in those who are overweight or obese. Although type 2 diabetes was once relatively uncommon among children, the rate of occurrence among kids has increased in recent years.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause similar symptoms, such as:
Type 1 symptoms typically develop quickly, while type 2 symptoms can take months or even years to become noticeable.
Managing your glucose levels is the most important thing to prevent diabetes complications. Depending on the type of diabetes you have and its severity, you may need to monitor your glucose levels throughout the day. In this case, you will need to self-administer insulin as is necessary to keep your glucose levels within a healthy range.
Other important steps you can take include:
It’s also to your advantage to see Dr. Oboite regularly to ensure that your treatment plan stays on track as your health needs change.
To learn more about what you can do to manage your diabetes or reduce your risk of developing the disease, call Sacred Heart Medical Group PC or book an appointment online today.
