Diabetes
Welcome to MyDoctor DPC!
A diabetes diagnosis can uproot your routine, but adopting healthy lifestyle changes and taking medications consistently can help you avoid harmful complications.
At MyDoctor Direct Primary Care we specialize in nutrition counseling and medication management to improve your well-being while living with diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition affecting the way your body processes sugar from your blood. Blood sugar, or glucose, is the main source of energy for every cell in your body. However, in order for your cells to get this energy, a hormone from your pancreas, called insulin, must facilitate glucose’s entry into your cells.
If you have diabetes, you either don’t produce insulin at all, or your body can’t efficiently use the insulin you have. As a result, the elevated glucose levels in your blood can cause damage to your organs if you don’t manage your diabetes properly. There’s no cure for diabetes, but I can give you the guidance and support you need to minimize its impact.
Q&A
Diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes, which have a few key differences. I diagnose your diabetes by performing blood tests like fasting blood sugar tests, random blood sugar tests, glucose tolerance tests, and hemoglobin A1C tests. I then explain your diagnosis to you in detail. You might have:
Type 1 Diabetes
If you have Type 1 Diabetes, you were likely diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. However, it can also begin in adulthood. With this type, your body fails to produce insulin because of an autoimmune reaction. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes tends to develop later in life than type 1 and accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases. It develops when your body produces insulin but can’t use it well enough to manage your blood sugar. In many cases, you can prevent or delay a type 2 diabetes diagnosis by eating healthy and adopting healthy habits like regular exercise.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes behaves similarly to Type 2 Diabetes but develops during pregnancy and usually subsides after childbirth. However, getting gestational diabetes while pregnant elevates your risk for Type 2 Diabetes later in life.
At MyDoctor Direct Primary Care, I help you understand your diagnosis and manage your condition with personalized care. Treatments for diabetes aim to keep your blood glucose levels in the normal range to prevent organ damage and health complications.
For all types of diabetes, you should make healthy lifestyle changes and learn to monitor your blood glucose levels. I can help you:
- Arrange a healthy eating plan with nutrition counseling
- Adopt a regular exercise routine
- Stop smoking
- Learn to use glucose monitoring devices
- Manage your medications
For Type 1 Diabetes and in some cases of Type 2 or Gestational Diabetes, you must take insulin to survive. I teach you the proper way to take your insulin. You might also need additional medications for any type of diabetes to manage high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other possible complications.
To start managing your diabetes with an effective, individualized plan, call MyDoctor Direct Primary Care or schedule an appointment online today.
To schedule a consultation for Diabetes Management as part of your membership plan with MyDoctor Direct Primary Care, call the office or book an appointment online today.
