Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects 13-14 million people in the US. Managing diabetes requires a partnership with a doctor that patients can trust to keep their blood sugar stable and their symptoms under control. The Central Texas doctors at San Marcos Family Medicine are experienced in diabetes treatment and management, and they’re ready to partner with San Marcos, Texas patients to take control over their blood sugar and diabetes symptoms.

Diabetes Q & A

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to a hormone called insulin. This can create an imbalance in the levels of glucose in the blood and urine, which leads to a number of health concerns.

Insulin is a hormone that breaks down the sugars and carbs in the foods people eat, turning it into glucose, which travels through the body to fuel the body’s different systems.

Diabetes falls into one of two categories: type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes is often called juvenile diabetes because it tends to affect children or young adults, but it can affect adults as well. In this form, the body stops producing insulin. Without insulin, glucose can’t be used by the cells of the body and builds up in the blood. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the body, and the cells being starved of glucose also causes damage.

Type 2 diabetes prevents the body from using insulin properly, creating a condition called insulin resistance. If the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to compensate for the insulin resistance, the body struggles to maintain healthy blood glucose levels. This is the more common type of diabetes.

Many people don’t notice symptoms of diabetes at first. Over time, they get worse and worse, and that can cause people to look for help. Some of the early symptoms may include:

Fatigue
General feeling of being unwell
Frequent urination
Extreme thirst
Sudden weight loss
Blurred vision
Slow healing of the skin or gums
Urinary tract infections
Genital itching in women

Patients who are noticing these symptoms should visit San Marcos Family Medicine to have their blood sugar tested.

Diabetes has no cure, but lifestyle changes and medications can help manage the disease. Some things that help diabetic patients manage their disease and maintain stable blood sugar levels include:

Exercise
Healthy diet with balanced amounts of carbohydrates
Regular blood sugar tests
Take diabetes medication and supplemental insulin as directed by a doctor

For more information or help in managing diabetes, visit San Marcos Family Medicine.