What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, refers to a group of diseases related to the body’s ability to metabolize food sugars (glucose), a vital source of energy for our muscles, tissues and brain. When we cannot make or effectively use our own insulin, glucose levels in the blood remain high which over time results in chronic health complications. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke. Other health risks include kidney and dental disease, blindness, hearing loss, neuropathy, limb amputation, complications during pregnancy and in severe cases diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) a medical emergency that requires immediate medical care.
The underlying cause of diabetes varies by type. But, no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in your blood. Too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes — when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes — and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.
With proper diet, exercise, medical care, and careful management at home, a person with diabetes can avoid the most serious complications and enjoy a full and active life. The diabetic care team at Community Hospital Clinics play a key role in helping patients manage diabetes successfully and avoid foot-related complications.
If you feel like you are developing symptoms, be sure to call your doctor. Here are some common tips, which may vary for each person:
Start managing your nutrition by purchasing a diabetic cookbook to prepare meals that help you cut calories to help lose weight. In addition it’s important to increase your daily physical activity- this is key to helping you build a healthier future. Remember Your Superfoods:
Questions About Diabetes?
Call Our Primary Care Clinic: 928-668-1833
This information is meant to be informative but not prescriptive. Their purpose is to provide information on diseases and processes, rather than dictate a specific form of diagnosis or treatment. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure must be made by the physician after all the circumstances are presented by the individual patient.
Community Hospital Clinics are located in Wickenburg, Wittmann, and Congress. We sincerely follow our mission to provide quality health and wellness services where the patient, family, and community come first.
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