Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious and chronic disease that occurs when your pancreas can no longer produce enough insulin, or you can’t effectively use the insulin you do produce, to regulate your blood sugar levels. Consult the providers at Dogwood Family Medicine to test for diabetes if you suspect you may have it, or to help you manage your condition. Our practice is located in Asheville, North Carolina, and serves residents of the Blue Ridge Mountain community.
Diabetes Q&A
What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs due to an autoimmune disorder and likely shows up during youth. When you have Type 1, you produce little-to-no insulin and need daily injections to manage your levels.
Most cases of diabetes are Type 2 diabetes. With this disease, you become resistant to the insulin you do produce, so it no longer adequately manages your blood sugar levels. Anyone at any age can be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but it often is associated with obesity or being overweight. Depending on the severity of the condition and it’s progression, you may need medication or be able to manage your condition with exercise and diet.
The third type of diabetes, gestational diabetes, happens when blood sugar levels rise too high during pregnancy. The symptoms usually subside after the baby is born, but the mother is often at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future.
What are the symptoms?
With Type 1 diabetes, you may experience a sudden onset of symptoms. But, with Type 2, symptoms may be undetectable, which is why regular screenings are important. Symptoms include:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Higher hunger levels
- Concentration challenges
- Tingling or numbness in your extremities
- Wounds that don’t heal well
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
A sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, an unhealthy diet, age, and a family history of diabetes raise your risk of Type 2 diabetes. You should see the staff at Dogwood Family Medicine if you have 1 or more of these factors. Type 1 diabetes can also be genetic or environmentally caused; the origins of the disease aren’t fully understood.
Why is it so serious?
When your body can’t produce insulin or use it effectively, the levels of glucose — or simple sugar — rise in your blood. Over time, these high blood sugar levels damage your body and lead to organ and tissue failure. Both types of diabetes also lead to nerve damage, kidney damage, eye health problems, poor foot health that may need amputation, skin irritation, and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes also increases your risk of developing other chronic health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s.
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