More than 38 million people in the United States have Type 2 diabetes, and many may not even know it. The chronic disease affects how the body uses sugar for energy, leading to too much sugar in the blood.
Though lifestyle is a major factor in the development of Type 2 diabetes, making lifestyle changes can’t reverse the disease. As a chronic health condition, Type 2 diabetes is with you for life. But, you can improve blood sugar and lessen the effects it has on your body.
At East Side Primary Medical Care in New York City, our primary care physician, Dr. Daniel Klein specializes in diagnosing and treating diabetes. We also help our patients take steps to prevent the life-long condition if they show early signs.
Here, we want to talk about Type 2 diabetes, how it affects the body, and how we can help you manage it.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that’s with you for life, developing from problems with insulin.
Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that gets sugar from the blood into the cell where it can be used for energy. People with Type 2 diabetes either don’t make enough insulin or the cells are resistant to the actions of insulin (insulin resistance).
If there isn’t enough insulin or it’s not working like it should, blood sugar levels go high. Over time, the excess sugar damages the body, leading to health issues like vision changes, kidney disease, and nerve pain.
Though you can improve blood sugar levels with the right plan, it’s not something that goes away.
Genetics, health history, age, and lifestyle are contributing factors in the development of Type 2 diabetes. Management of the chronic health condition focuses on lifestyle changes since it’s the one factor that’s completely in your control.
We work closely with our patients with diabetes, developing plans that fit their goals, health needs, and abilities. We also offer concierge primary care to provide additional support for those interested in taking a more proactive approach in their diabetes management.
A diabetes management plan typically includes:
Some of the newer medications we use to help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes also help with weight management. Following a diabetes management plan that helps you maintain normal blood sugar levels is your best defense against diabetes-related complications.
While we can’t reverse Type 2 diabetes once you have it, we can prevent it if you have risk factors or symptoms of prediabetes. With prediabetes, blood sugars are higher than normal, but not high enough to qualify for the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. But unlike Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes is reversible.
Prediabetes is a serious condition, but we view it as a wake-up call for change, giving you an opportunity to take steps to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Many of the lifestyle changes we recommend for managing diabetes can also benefit people with prediabetes.
Eating better, exercising regularly, and losing weight can prevent prediabetes from turning into Type 2 diabetes.
Are you worried about diabetes and how it affects health? Do you want to improve your blood sugar control? We can help.
Call our Upper East Side office in Manhattan, New York City, or book an appointment online.
