Diabetes is a disease that is caused by your body’s inability to produce sufficient levels of insulin or is not able to use the insulin as effectively as it should. Insulin is necessary to ensure that your blood sugar levels are at a healthy rate, so a lack of insulin causes there to be too much sugar to be left in the bloodstream. This can lead to more serious health problems including heart disease, kidney disease, or loss of vision. Though there is no cure for diabetes, there are many treatments available to help manage blood sugar levels to allow patients to continue living their lives normally.

There are a few common symptoms to look out for that could be indicative of having diabetes, including an increase in urination (especially at night), frequently thirsty or hungry, inexplicable weight loss, vision becomes blurry, or feel tingling or numbness in the feet or hands. As well, other signs of being diabetic may include feeling more fatigued than typical, experiencing more dryness in your skin, developing more infections than what is normal for you, and experiencing a slower healing time for sores.

The symptoms may also vary depending on which type of diabetes you have. Type 1 diabetes may elicit nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains, and these symptoms can quickly become more and more severe as the disease goes untreated. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be much trickier to spot, so if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above (which can seem much more mild compared to the symptoms experienced with type 1 diabetes), it is best to visit a healthcare provider for a check-up.

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common type of diabetes and while there is not one specific cause, there are a few factors that may contribute to making someone more at risk of developing the disease. Some contributing risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being overweight, being older than 45 years of age, not doing enough physical activity, having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or having a sibling or parent that has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The cause of type 1 diabetes is considered to be an immune reaction that is likely dependent on your family history, as it is a disease with which you are likely born.

The three types of diabetes include type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the pancreas being unable to produce insulin, so the blood sugar builds up in the bloodstream as it cannot travel to the cells. It most frequently develops in children, teenagers, or young adults, but can develop at any age. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be treated by proper management supported by a medical professional. Most patients that are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will require daily insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common, with 10% of the adult population in the USA being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Those with type 2 diabetes will need to visit their healthcare provider regularly and have their blood sugar levels checked to ensure that they are properly managing their disease. Being aware of the contributing factors can help patients to prevent or delay the symptoms of type 2 diabetes from developing.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops in women who do not already have it while they are pregnant. The hormones that are produced during pregnancy can affect how well your body is able to process insulin, increasing your body’s need for insulin production. Developing gestational diabetes can also indicate that you are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, and this can increase the chances of your baby developing type 2 diabetes as well.

You will receive personalized, and superior diabetic care in a compassionate setting at League Health. We are conveniently located at 23541 Westheimer Pkwy Suite 160, Katy TX 77494. For more information, please call us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Katy TX, Cinco Ranch TX, Richmond TX, Houston TX, Cypress TX, Fulshear TX, Memorial City TX, Sugarland TX, and surrounding areas.