Frequently Asked Questions about Diabetes and Diabetes Care
If you have diabetes, you must know the facts about this serious disease and how it can be managed. Dr. Dan Hoyumpa at Texan Family Clinic in San Antonio, TX, provides various medical services, including diagnosis, treatment, and diabetes management.
What You Need To Know About Diabetes
These are just a few frequently asked questions and answers about diabetes:
How Common is Diabetes?
According to the American Diabetes Association, over 9% of the people in the United States are diabetic.
The Different Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes, which is caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes, which develops from a combination of factors including age, weight, age, lack of exercise, and other factors.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
You may have diabetes and not know it because the signs and symptoms are mild. Common signs and symptoms of diabetes include having:
- Frequent feelings of thirst or hunger
- Chronic fatigue or blurred vision
- Frequent feelings of needing to urinate
- Cuts and other Injuries that heal slowly
How Diabetes is Diagnosed
Diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test. You will be asked to avoid eating for several hours and then a sample of your blood is taken. The sample is tested to measure your blood sugar level. Your A1C may be measured, indicating an average of your blood sugar over a 2-to-3-month period.
How Diabetes is Treated
Your treatment will depend on which type of diabetes you have:
Type 1 diabetes is typically treated with a boost of insulin, either from injections, or a pump.
Type 2 diabetes may be managed by diet and exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight also helps control blood sugar levels. You may be advised to eat a diet that is low in fat and salt and exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.Your doctor may also recommend medications to:
- Promote insulin production
- Decrease sugar absorption by your intestine
- Improve insulin usage by your body
- Improve insulin resistance
Want To Know More About Diabetes?
To learn more about diabetes and diabetes care, call Dr. Dan Hoyumpa at Texan Family Clinic in San Antonio, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (210) 562-3125, so call today.