Diabetes Management

Diabetes is a serious condition that requires proper care in order to prevent serious complications later down the road. Fortunately, our physicians and health care professionals are experts when it comes to treating and helping you manage your diabetes. Over the years, out staff has helped thousands of diabetic patients and has specialized training in diabetes management. We pride ourselves on our ability to offer a wide range of diabetic care, from natural, holistic methods to more aggressive and invasive procedures. We understand that no two diabetic patients are the same, which is why we offer so many effective treatment and management options.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that can affect virtually any organ in your body. As a microvascular disease, when high levels of glucose build up in the vasculature, a variety of unpleasant conditions may occur. Because of this and the fact that sugar is a root cause behind many unpleasant diabetes symptoms, our physicians like to tell our patients that sugar is like bacteria for diabetics. When you consume too much of it, your likelihood of contracting an infection increases. Some of the conditions that may result from diabetes include the following:

• Kidney disease
• Blindness
• Heart disease
• Erectile dysfunction
• Stroke
• Gastroparesis
• Neuropathy and more

In addition to the above-mentioned conditions, patients with Type 2 diabetes often suffer from hypertension, depression, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipidemia.

Different Types of Diabetes

It's important to note that there is more than one type of diabetes. Check out the list below for a better idea of what separates each type of diabetes from the other.

• Type 1 Diabetes: This occurs when your pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin. Unlike other conditions, Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease. If you're diagnosed with the condition, it means your body's immune system is destroying the cells in your pancreas responsible for making insulin. Because of this, Type 1 diabetics have to take insulin daily via insulin injections or an insulin pump.
• Type 2 Diabetes: If you have this condition, it means your body is resisting the insulin it's producing. Even though your body is still producing insulin, you're unable to make enough to meet your needs. If left untreated, this condition will only progress. If left untreated long enough, our doctors will prescribe medications and insulin to keep the condition under control.
• Gestational Diabetes: This condition only occurs during pregnancy when pregnancy hormones make your body resistant to insulin. Fortunately, most women are able to compensate for the deficiency. Those who can't, however, may experience an increase in blood sugar until their baby is born. After delivery, gestational diabetes usually goes away.

Common Diabetes Symptoms

Like many other medical conditions, diabetes comes with its own share of unpleasant symptoms, including the following:

• Frequent urination
• Feeling of thirst
• Hunger
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow healing injuries
• Weight loss
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet (only in Type 2 diabetics)

How Is Diabetes Managed?

At our Keystone Physical Medicine clinic in Meridian, Idaho, we take a well-rounded approach when managing diabetes. Many of our treatment plans involve healthy eating habits, physical activity, diabetes education, medications when necessary, self-monitoring blood glucose, and follow-up care as needed.

We take great pride in our ability to create and offer customized care plans that are every bit unique as our individual patients are. If you're a diabetic looking for better, more effective ways to manage your condition, look no further than our clinic. Give our office a call today and schedule an appointment to learn more about your care options.