What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a group of chronic illnesses that occur due to high blood sugar. Everyone needs some blood sugar to survive, as it provides energy for your muscles and fuels the cells in your brain.
But if your blood sugar levels are too high for an extended period of time, it increases your risk of serious health problems.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes vary and depend on how high your blood sugar levels are. Telltale signs include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Extreme hunger
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
If you have diabetes, you’re also more likely to experience gum disease or skin infections.
Are there different types of diabetes?
Compass Mental Health & Wellness treats several types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, occurs if your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar throughout your body.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you must get insulin therapy. Insulin therapy is a treatment that involves one or several insulin injections each day. It ensures your blood sugar stays at a healthy level.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs due to insulin resistance. If you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas makes insulin but doesn’t use it properly. Over time, this allows blood sugar to build up in your bloodstream.
Prediabetes
If you have prediabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are consistently high. However, they aren’t yet high enough to trigger diabetes. If you catch prediabetes early on, it’s possible to reverse through healthy lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. When you're pregnant, your body increases hormone production to protect your growing baby. These extra hormones can affect your pancreas, resulting in insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes typically subsides after you give birth.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
To diagnose diabetes, the team at Compass Mental Health & Wellness conducts a physical exam, reviews your medical history, and asks about your lifestyle and symptoms. They also order a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test.
An A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. A result of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates you have diabetes.
How is diabetes treated?
Compass Mental Health & Wellness treats diabetes using holistic, integrative measures. This includes a combination of healthy lifestyle changes like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress levels with prescription medications.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need insulin therapy. Some people with gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes also need insulin therapy. There are several types of insulin available, including rapid-acting insulin and long-acting insulin.
To explore your treatment options for diabetes, schedule an appointment at Compass Mental Health & Wellness. Call or book online today.
