Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting how your body regulates sugar in your bloodstream. Uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to complications over time, so it’s essential to get screened for diabetes if you’re at risk so you can adequately manage the disease.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The common types of diabetes include Type 1, Type 2, pre-diabetes, and gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy). 

Pre-diabetes occurs in the stages leading up to diabetes. Type 1 diabetes often develops during childhood, when the body doesn't make enough of the hormone insulin to move sugar from the blood into other body cells. Type 2 diabetes usually appears after 40 because of the inability of your body to properly use insulin.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

The symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Increased infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Weakness
• Blurry vision
• Slow healing sores
• Irritability
• Mood swings

You may not have any noticeable symptoms of diabetes, at least not during its initial stages. If you’re at risk of diabetes, routine screening is a must.

What are the complications of uncontrolled diabetes?

When left untreated, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to:

• Nerve damage
• Heart and blood vessel disorders
• Eye damage
• Kidney damage
• Foot problems
• Hearing impairment
• Dementia
• Bacterial or fungal infections
• Depression

Adopting healthy habits is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of diabetes. Eat nutritious foods, maintain an ideal body weight, and get plenty of exercise to help prevent diabetes. Don’t smoke, and keep your stress levels low. 

How is diabetes diagnosed and treated?

Our providers diagnose diabetes using a simple blood test. They also review your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle habits.

To control blood sugar levels, you might eat more fruits and vegetables, increase exercise, lose weight, or take oral diabetes medicines. 

Some people need insulin injections or an insulin pump, or various diabetes treatments to properly manage the disease and keep the risk of complications low. Check your blood sugar levels often to make sure your treatment is effective. 

If you have diabetes complications, such as heart or blood vessel disorders, our providers offer an array of highly effective treatments. 

To get treated or screened for diabetes, call the Louisiana Heart and Vascular office, or use the online booking feature today.