Diabetes Specialist
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Arlington Family Practice
Family Practice located in Arlington, MA
Diabetes affects over 100 million Americans every year. Though many people live long and healthy lives with diabetes, others leave the condition untreated. At Arlington Family Practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, Dr. Ann Morvai and the rest of the medical team are committed to giving men and women practical solutions to managing their diabetes and avoiding life-threatening complications. Call or book online today to learn more about how you can live healthily with diabetes.
Diabetes Q & A
What are the different types of diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when your body is no longer able to produce the correct amounts of insulin to process food and regulate your blood sugar properly. Insulin is vital for your body to transfer sugars into energy and store glucose for future use.
There are two main types of diabetes, though gestational diabetes also occurs in pregnant women.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes refers to your body’s inability to make insulin because your immune system has attacked healthy cells in your pancreas. Type 1 typically affects young adults and children.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 occurs when your body doesn’t properly use the insulin to move sugar into your cells. This type of diabetes affects people of all ages, though it’s been diagnosed more frequently in middle-aged and older individuals.
Gestational diabetes
In some cases, pregnant women can contract gestational diabetes. After the pregnancy, however, it typically goes away. Nonetheless, women with gestational diabetes are more likely to contract type 2 later in life.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Arlington Family Practice has identified the most common symptoms of diabetes in the two types:
- Vision changes
- Bladder control
- Excessive thirst
- Weight loss
- Hunger
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Fatigue
- Dry skin
- Slow-healing sores
Get in touch with a team member today if you experience any of the above.
What are the risks of diabetes?
If left untreated for too long, diabetes can lead to kidney, dental, and heart disease. It may also cause you to have a stroke or nerve damage. In some cases, you might have vision loss, and in more extreme cases, diabetes can lead to death.
How is diabetes treated?
To test your blood sugar levels, your Arlington Family Practice doctor performs an A1C blood test. The A1C test can help diagnose type 2 diabetes or prediabetes — which refers to your risk factor.
If you have type 1 diabetes, they might recommend regular insulin injections or that you wear an insulin pump to pump insulin into your body throughout the day regularly.
Type 2 diabetes management is a little trickier because it requires much self-discipline. Your doctor can help you identify the diet, exercise regimen, and medication you need to keep your blood sugar levels stable.
If you think you might have diabetes or have a known family history of it, get in touch with a team member at Arlington Family Practice today by phone or online to book an appointment.
