Diabetes Management

According to the American Diabetes Association, over 38.4 million people in the United States are living with diabetes. Because symptoms of diabetes can be so difficult to manage, it helps to have a physician on your side to help guide and advise you through the process. Fortunately, the team at AssociatesMD, which has locations in Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Weston, Margate, and Dania Beach, Florida, can help. If you have diabetes and aren’t sure how to manage the symptoms, contact the nearest office or request an appointment online today.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a group of diseases that are associated with a hormone called insulin. Your pancreas makes insulin, which allows your cells to turn glucose into energy.

There are two types of diabetes: Type I and Type II. Type I occurs when the immune system destroys the cells in your body that release insulin. Without insulin, your cells can’t absorb sugar (glucose) and convert it to energy.

When your cells can’t properly utilize insulin, you have Type II diabetes. This type is called insulin resistance. Here, the pancreas tries to make more and more insulin to compensate for your cells’ inability to utilize insulin correctly, which raises your blood sugar level.

Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Frequent urination
• Feeling thirsty
• Feeling hungry
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet.

What is included in diabetes management?

The best way to manage the symptoms of diabetes is to make healthy food choices and to stay active. Losing weight and getting plenty of exercise and sleep can help lower your blood pressure.

Depending on how high your blood pressure is, your AssociatesMD provider may also prescribe beta-blockers or ACE (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors to help relax blood vessels.

If you’re smoking, you should quit. You also need to check your blood sugar daily.

How should I eat if I have diabetes?

Your AssociatesMD provider may recommend lowering your carbohydrate intake by spreading it out over the entire day. Avoid trans fat, salt, and unhealthy saturated fats, all parts of improving your diet to manage the symptoms of diabetes.

Because alcohol can affect your blood sugar, you should be careful how much you drink. Adult women with diabetes should drink no more than one glass of wine per day, and men should have no more than two.

If you’re pregnant, let your provider know, as pregnancy drastically affects your treatment plan, ruling out your ability to take certain medications.

How do I track my blood sugar levels?

You may need to check your blood sugar several times a day if you have diabetes. Managing your blood sugar level helps you to avoid diabetes complications. To test your blood sugar, prick your finger with a needle called a lancet and put a drop of blood on a test strip.

This provides results in about 15 seconds. There are also meters that allow you to test your arm, thumb base, or thigh instead of your finger.

To schedule a diabetes management consultation, call AssociatesMD or request an appointment online today.