DIABETES SPECIALIST
Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes, and another 1.5 million receive a diagnosis with this chronic metabolic disease annually. Diabetes is a lifelong condition that can compromise your health. To reduce your risk of developing serious complications, it’s important to monitor diabetes closely. Trust the caring providers at Ahmed Family Practice in Forest Park, Georgia, for top-quality diabetes management. Request an appointment online or call the clinic for more information today..
Diabetes Q&A
What is diabetes?
Insulin is a hormone your pancreas makes that converts sugar from the food you eat into energy that fuels your body. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that affects the way your body processes sugar.
When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin, or it can’t properly utilize the insulin it does make. When insulin can’t convert sugar into energy, it remains in your bloodstream, and your blood sugar level rises.
The two most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that’s often diagnosed in childhood, type 2 diabetes develops later in life. The exact cause of diabetes isn’t known, but it has genetic and lifestyle links.
Am I at risk for developing diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, develops in adults who have certain genetic and lifestyle factors; it can also affect children. People with a family history of type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of developing it than those who don’t. Additionally, you might be at risk of developing diabetes if you are:
- Overweight or obese
- Inactive
- Older than 45
- African-American, Hispanic, or Asian-American
Prediabetes is a medical diagnosis that you may receive if it’s very likely you’ll develop type 2 diabetes within the next five years. While there is no cure for diabetes, you can reverse prediabetes, and a diagnosis doesn’t mean developing diabetes is inevitable.
What are the common health complications of diabetes?
High blood sugar damages blood vessels, tissues, and organs over time. Because diabetes causes high blood sugar levels, it’s linked to a number of potentially serious health complications. They can include:
- Heart disease
- Nerve damage
- Eye damage
- Kidney damage
- Skin conditions
Diabetes has no cure. But having diabetes doesn’t mean you experience a life of health complications. Ahmed Family Practice’s diabetes care helps patients who are living with the condition stay as healthy as possible.
How can I manage diabetes?
When diabetes is well-managed, your risk of complications is lower. Ahmed Family Practice closely monitors the condition, evaluating your blood sugar levels and potential complications to help you stay as healthy as possible. Care is convenient with in-house phlebotomy services.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes generally includes taking insulin. For type 2, you may benefit from insulin medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of the two. Weight loss can improve type 2 diabetes symptoms and be an important aspect of treating prediabetes. Ahmed Family Practice is happy to offer physician-supervised weight loss to help people improve their health.
Whether you have diabetes or you’re at risk for developing it, Ahmed Family Practice dedicates the time to help you manage your health. Learn more about diabetes care by calling the office or booking an appointment online.