Diabetes is a complex disease that develops because of problems involving insulin, the hormone that transports glucose (energy from the food you eat) from your bloodstream into the cells.
Too much glucose in your blood damages blood vessels and organs, causing health problems like nerve damage, vision loss, and kidney disease. Managing diabetes is important because it may help you prevent these diabetes-related complications.
You don’t have to manage diabetes on your own when you’re a patient at Weston Medical Health & Wellness. Our medical director, Dr. Andrea Bretal, takes a comprehensive approach to diabetes management, focusing on diet and lifestyle.
Here, we want to explain the importance of managing your diabetes.
Glucose serves as the main source of energy for every cell in your body, and it from the food you eat. When glucose hits your bloodstream after digestion and absorption, it triggers your pancreas to release insulin, which moves glucose from the blood into the cells.
When your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, your pancreas releases more insulin to help bring levels down. High levels of glucose and insulin slowly damage your body, starting with the tiniest blood vessels like the ones in your feet, hands, eyes, and kidneys. The excess glucose also weakens the heart.
This damage occurs over several years, usually without causing any noticeable symptoms.
Having diabetes puts you at greater risk of developing other health problems like heart disease, neuropathy, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. And the risk is even higher if your blood glucose numbers are poorly controlled.
Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent or delay diabetes-related complications. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends all adults who are overweight or obese undergo screening for diabetes and prediabetes starting at age 35 and up through age 70.
Prediabetes means your blood glucose numbers are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. With the right interventions, you can reverse prediabetes and prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires life-long management, even when you feel fine. We help our patients take control of their diabetes — and their health — by focusing on lifestyle and diet.
We provide help with nutrition, exercise, and stress management. We also have a comprehensive weight-loss program that can help you reach your weight goal and stay there.
Managing your diabetes is important for your health. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive diabetes management plan that focuses on lifestyle, we can help.
You can call our office in Weston, Florida, or click here to use online booking.
