Diabetes requires careful, lifelong management to ensure your blood sugar levels stay within normal limits. Fortunately, if you live in or around Brawley, California, you get the compassionate support you need from Man Duong, M.D., who offers comprehensive diabetes management. Whether you need a routine appointment or have questions about diet and exercise, Dr. Duong can help. To schedule an appointment, call the office or request one online today.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that develops when your own immune system attacks the pancreas, damaging the cells that produce insulin. As a result, the pancreas stops producing the insulin you need to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune disorder. This type of diabetes begins when you develop insulin resistance, which means your body can’t use the insulin that’s available. Then insulin resistance becomes full-blown Type 2 diabetes when your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin.
In both types of diabetes, the lack of insulin leads to high blood sugar. You need lifestyle treatment and, in some cases, medication to lower your blood sugar to a healthy level.
Both types of diabetes cause symptoms such as:
When you have Type 1 diabetes, your symptoms appear quickly. By comparison, Type 2 diabetes develops gradually over many years, so your symptoms appear slowly. For this reason, you may not recognize the early signs of Type 2 diabetes.
Maintaining tight control of your blood sugar is important because high blood sugar damages small blood vessels and nerves. This damage leads to serious complications, including:
Adults with diabetes have double the risk of dying from heart disease or a stroke compared with those who don’t have diabetes.
Diabetes management refers to taking all the steps necessary to keep your blood sugar within a normal range. Dr. Duong works with you to create a customized diabetes management plan, but the basics of controlling blood sugar include:
Diabetes management also includes maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
To learn more about diabetes management and how you can receive proper care, call the offices of Man Duong, M.D., or request an appointment online.