Diabetes

Diabetes is a common health concern that affects more than 11% of people in the United States. At Norwood Medical Associates in Norwood, Massachusetts, Savitha Gowda, MD, Suruchi Kaul, MD, and the team screen for and treat diabetes to reduce the risk of life-threatening complications. Schedule an evaluation at Norwood Medical Associates by phone or request one online today.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the way your body controls sugar in your bloodstream. When not detected or treated properly, diabetes can cause serious medical complications. It’s one of the top causes of death in the United States.

What are the different types of diabetes?

Common types of diabetes include:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes often develops during childhood when the body doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that helps move sugar from the blood into body tissues. It affects around 5% of adult diabetics.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes often presents over age 40 due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. While your body may make enough insulin, it can’t use it properly. About 90-95% of Americans with diabetes have this form of preventable diabetes. 

Prediabetes

Prediabetes appears before the development of Type 2 diabetes and is a reversible condition with the right healthy lifestyle plan in place. 

Gestational diabetes 

Gestational diabetes sometimes appears at about 24 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy. It usually goes away after pregnancy.

Which symptoms can diabetes cause?

While diabetes doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms right away, those to watch for include:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Tingling or numbness in your feet or hands
• Extreme hunger
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Unintentional weight loss
• Blurry vision 
• Frequent infections
• Slow healing or non-healing sores
• Irritability
• Mood swings

Complications may include heart or kidney problems, eye damage, nerve damage, foot problems, and even cognitive issues when diabetes isn’t managed appropriately. 

Severe diabetes complications might contribute to the need for limb amputation, blindness, or even death. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Many people with diabetes die of a stroke or heart disease.

Routine diabetes screenings can detect prediabetes or diabetes, even if you don’t have noticeable symptoms. Such screenings are important if you have diabetes risk factors. 

What may increase my risk of diabetes?

A family history of diabetes is a hallmark risk factor for developing diabetes, particularly Type 1 diabetes. Being overweight or obese, a lack of exercise, and poor nutritional habits increase your chance of having other forms of diabetes.

How is diabetes treated?

The Norwood Medical Associates specialists diagnose diabetes after reviewing your symptoms, medical history, medications, lifestyle habits, and more. They complete a physical exam and use blood tests to evaluate your blood sugar levels. 

Treatments for diabetes may include making healthy lifestyle changes, altering your diet and exercise regimens, and undergoing weight loss. You might take oral diabetes medications, use insulin injections, or have an insulin pump.

Your Norwood Medical Associates provider tailors each diabetes treatment to your needs and follows up with you for routine monitoring. 

Schedule a diabetes evaluation at Norwood Medical Associates by phone or request one online today.