Diabetes Management

What are the common types of diabetes?

Diabetes is an endocrine disorder that causes an imbalance in insulin, a hormone that your pancreas produces. Insulin is vital for regulating the levels of sugar in your blood.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that develops when your immune system malfunctions and destroys cells that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable and often develops during childhood.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is more common and develops when your body doesn’t respond to the insulin you produce. As a result, the glucose builds up in your blood instead of moving into your body’s cells.

Gestational diabetes

Some pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, though this condition typically goes away after the baby’s birth.

Why is diabetes management necessary?

Diabetes requires careful management because elevated blood glucose can cause:

• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• Kidney damage
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Hearing problems
• Peripheral vascular disease (PAD)

Diabetic foot ulcers are open sores that don’t heal properly. They develop when high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels and nerves in your lower limbs. Poor circulation prevents sufficient oxygen, nutrients, and healing in your legs and feet.

Nerve damage, including peripheral neuropathy, can make your feet numb, increasing the risk of injuries. When minor skin damage doesn’t heal properly, tissues break down, and ulcers can form. Infected ulcers are common, and amputation is sometimes necessary if you have a severe foot infection.

Diabetes management at Islamorada Medical Center helps you properly regulate blood sugar and reduce the risk of devastating health problems.

What should I expect during diabetes management?

Diabetes management is a partnership between you and the experienced specialists at Islamorada Medical Center. 

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need lifelong supplementary insulin to replace what your pancreas can’t make. Type 2 diabetes often results because of lifestyle habits, such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, and carrying excess body weight.

Your Islamorada Medical Center provider helps you make changes that improve your well-being. They offer medical weight loss, diet and exercise education, medication prescriptions, and smoking cessation. Your specialist also provides routine weight and heart-function checks, as well as blood glucose monitoring.

Diabetes management also includes diabetic foot care to reduce the risk of ulcers and treat any that develop early on. Your Islamorada Medical Center provider carefully checks your feet for wounds. They treat foot and ankle conditions, such as ingrown toenails and fungal infections, and trim your toenails if necessary.

To learn more about the outstanding diabetes management services at Islamorada Medical Center, call the office or book an appointment online today.