Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes your blood sugar levels to spike. Everyone needs some blood sugar to survive, but if your levels are consistently high, it increases your risk of potentially serious conditions, like a heart attack or a stroke.

What are the types of diabetes?

Healthy Horizons Clinic treats several types of diabetes, including:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack and destroy the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. 

Type 2 diabetes

This type occurs when the cells in your pancreas become insulin resistant. If your cells are insulin resistant, they don’t remove glucose from your blood, causing your blood sugar levels to spike. 

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant people. During pregnancy, your body releases additional hormones to protect the growing fetus. Researchers don’t know why, but these hormones can affect your blood sugar levels. After giving birth, gestational diabetes typically resolves.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst
• Weight loss
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision
• Extreme fatigue

As the condition gets worse, you might also develop open wounds on your legs or feet that don’t heal. 

How is diabetes diagnosed?

To diagnose diabetes, your Healthy Horizons Clinic provider reviews your medical history, asks about your symptoms, and conducts a physical. Afterward, they order several types of blood work, including a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. 

An A1C test measures your average blood sugar over the past few months. A reading of 6.7% or higher on two separate tests means you have diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?

Treatment of diabetes depends on several factors, including your age, the type of diabetes, and the severity of your symptoms.

Healthy Horizons Clinic treats diabetes using evidence-based medicine. Regardless of the type of diabetes you have, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels daily. Healthy Horizons Clinic has an in-house laboratory that makes it easy to evaluate your treatment progress.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you might benefit from healthy lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. You might also benefit from prescription medication, like insulin.

If you have type 1 diabetes, your provider prescribes insulin therapy. Insulin therapy uses prescription medication to keep your blood sugar levels from spiking.

To receive treatment for diabetes, make an appointment at Healthy Horizons Clinic by calling the office today or clicking the online booking feature.