Diabetes

It’s estimated that 1 in 5 Americans with diabetes aren’t aware that they have a chronic health condition. At Stanton Family Clinic, the experienced medical team in Stanton, Kentucky, offers comprehensive diabetes management services to protect your long-term health. The providers can screen for diabetes with in-office blood tests and customize treatment plans to keep your blood sugar levels well controlled. Call the office to schedule a diabetes evaluation or book an appointment online today.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body metabolizes the sugar from your diet. Typically, your body produces the hormone insulin to convert the sugar into the energy you need to function.

Several types of diabetes can develop when this process doesn’t work as it should:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes develops when your body produces little or no insulin and can’t keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

This type of diabetes develops when your immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas, the organ that makes insulin. The attack damages the pancreas and disrupts its ability to make sufficient amounts of the insulin hormone.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin to control your blood sugar levels or doesn’t use the insulin it makes properly.

This type of diabetes typically develops because of obesity, poor diet, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes describes blood sugar levels that are high, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. This condition develops because of a poor diet and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. Having prediabetes significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

How do I know if I have diabetes?

The only way to confirm you have diabetes is to have a routine blood screening. Stanton Family Clinic offers blood testing on-site to diagnose all types of diabetes. Regular blood screenings can identify the condition early, so you can better manage your blood sugar levels.

Without testing, you can have diabetes for years before symptoms develop. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health complications like:

• Nerve damage (neuropathy)
• Vision loss
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease

You may also be at increased risk for premature death if your blood sugar levels remain too high for too long.

How is diabetes treated?

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need daily insulin to keep your blood sugar under control.

Managing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes may initially require lifestyle and diet changes to lower your blood sugar levels naturally. However, if these changes aren’t enough, the Stanton Family Clinic team can prescribe medications that keep your blood sugar levels healthy.

Additionally, you also need to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly at home. The providers show you how to check your blood using home test kits and can assess how well your treatment is working during routine follow-up visits.

If you need help managing diabetes, call Stanton Family Clinic or book an appointment online today.