Diabetes Mellitus Specialist

What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects how your body processes the sugar you get from your diet. In a healthy body, the insulin hormone helps to control sugar levels in your blood by converting it into the energy you need to function.

There are four types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

When you have Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t make the insulin necessary to control sugar in your blood. This results in your sugar levels being dangerously high, which can lead to long-term health complications, including heart damage, nerve damage, and premature death. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adolescents.

Type 2 diabetes

In Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use the insulin it makes properly.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Usually, due to a poor diet and a lack of exercise, prediabetes increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes causes your blood sugar levels to increase during pregnancy. In many cases, gestational diabetes resolves after the child is born, but can also increase your risk for Type 2 diabetes.

How is diabetes mellitus diagnosed?

Diabetes mellitus is easily diagnosed through a simple blood test. The Harmony Health staff offers on-site blood testing that allows your provider to evaluate your blood sugar levels. This test is done if you have diabetes symptoms such as:

• Blurry vision
  
• Excessive thirst
  
• Slow-healing sores
  
• Frequent need to urinate
  
• Unexplained weight changes

You may also need routine blood tests to screen for diabetes if you have a family history of the condition.

How is diabetes treated?

The Harmony Health medical team offers long-term management services to keep your blood sugars well controlled. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need daily insulin therapy, either with oral medications or injections.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your Harmony Health provider may initially recommend changes to your diet and lifestyle. By eating a heart-healthy, low-sugar diet, improving your nutrition, and getting daily exercise, you can lower your blood sugars naturally.

These changes are also the recommended treatment for prediabetes and are important for ensuring you maintain a healthy weight, which is important for managing diabetes.
When lifestyle modifications aren’t enough to keep blood sugars under control, you may need medications or daily insulin.

If you have symptoms of diabetes or a family history of the disease, schedule an evaluation at Harmony Health today by phone or online.