Diabetes Management
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TX Primary Care Plus
Internal Medicine located in Plano, TX
Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires lifelong care and management. At TX Primary Care Plus in Plano, Texas, internal medicine provider Venkatesh Madhav, MD, and the team provide holistic care for diabetes. Managing your blood sugar levels now can help prevent complications, such as vision impairment and peripheral neuropathy, in the future. To learn more about diabetes management, call TX Primary Care Plus or schedule an appointment online today.
Diabetes Management Q&A
What is diabetes management?
Diabetes affects nearly every part of the body, from the eyes to the kidneys. The condition, which stems from long-term high blood sugar levels, slowly damages the blood vessels throughout the body. Diabetes results from a mismanagement of the hormone insulin, which helps convert glucose (sugar) into energy.
When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it efficiently, glucose builds up in the blood and destroys the blood vessel walls.
Because diabetes can impact any blood vessel in your body, managing the condition is essential to prevent complications. The providers at TX Primary Care Plus provide comprehensive diabetes management care to ensure you continue to remain healthy as you age.
Who needs diabetes management?
If you have diabetes, monitoring and controlling your blood sugar levels can help prevent irreversible damage to your blood vessels. There are three types of diabetes that require proper management:
Type 1 diabetes
Individuals with type 1 diabetes can’t produce insulin. This autoimmune disease causes the body’s protective immune system to attack and destroy the cells that create insulin. As a result, those with type 1 diabetes must take insulin throughout their lives.
Type 2 diabetes
If your pancreas fails to use insulin properly or doesn’t produce enough of the hormone, type 2 diabetes can develop. While anybody can develop the condition, poor diet, inactivity, and being over the age of 45 can increase your risk.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs due to a hormone imbalance during pregnancy. Although the condition typically resolves once you give birth, it’s essential to monitor your blood sugar levels to ensure you and your baby remain healthy.
What does diabetes management include?
The best way to manage diabetes is to monitor and control your blood sugar levels. The providers at TX Primary Care Plus recommend checking your levels at least once a day to prevent complications.
Along with blood sugar monitoring, your individualized diabetes management plan may include:
- Healthy diet
- Increasing exercise
- Smoking cessation
- Medication
- Insulin pump or injections
- Carbohydrate counting
If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend more frequent office visits to monitor and identify any changes to your health.
For more information on diabetes management, call TX Primary Care Plus or book an appointment online today.
