Diabetes Management

Diabetes Management

Helping You Maintain a Healthy Life with Diabetes

People diagnosed with diabetes have trouble using glucose for energy and experience high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a chronic condition that can result in major health problems if left untreated.

Common symptoms that indicate you may have diabetes include:

  • Tiredness or lack of energy
  • Frequent urination
  • Frequently feeling hungry or thirsty
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Injuries such as cuts and bruises take a long time to heal
  • Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes

Diabetes can affect anyone, but you are more susceptible if you are overweight, over the age of 40, do not exercise, or have a family history of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

The exact cause of Type 1 Diabetes is unknown, though we do know that it is not caused by eating too much sugar.

Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed by simple blood tests that check for a high level of glucose in your blood. Glucose tests may need to be repeated in order to confirm the diagnosis.

Type 2 Diabetes

People of all backgrounds can get diabetes. More often, though, it affects African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Other factors that increase risk include:

  • A family history of diabetes
  • Being overweight
  • Being over age 40
  • Having had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
  • Not enough physical activity

Common questions often asked by patients with Type 2 Diabetes include:

  • Do you feel tired all the time?
  • Do you urinate often?
  • Do you feel thirsty or hungry all the time?
  • Are you losing weight for no reason?
  • Do cuts and bruises heal slowly?
  • Do you have numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes?

If so, see your health care provider.

Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes can be treated by a variety of medications. Some medications can be swallowed while others have to be injected. Some medications, such as insulin, can be taken in more than one way.

  • Oral medications (pills)
  • Injections (shots given using a syringe or pen-like devices)
  • Insulin pumps (devices that can deliver a steady amount of insulin 24 hours a day

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