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Your body turns food into energy by breaking it down into sugar and releasing it into your bloodstream. High blood sugar levels trigger the pancreas to release insulin, which directs the excess sugar into your body’s cells for later use.
If your body doesn’t make insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or your body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should (Type 2 diabetes), too much sugar (glucose) stays in the bloodstream. Over time, this excess sugar can lead to heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.
There is no cure for diabetes, but losing weight and eating healthy food can help, along with medication and careful management of your disease.
Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels gives you the information you need to adjust your nutrition therapy, lifestyle and medications to keep the levels within a target range. Working with your provider and diabetes care team, you can manage your diabetes, prevent complications and live a long and healthy life.
More people with diabetes or endocrine or hormonal conditions in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Community Medical Associates – Endocrinology and Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute for their care than any other health system in the area. Patients can benefit from access to a broad network of providers, support services, educators and classes.
Prediabetes is a condition in which the amount of sugar in your blood is higher than normal, but not as high as in Type 2 diabetes. Often prediabetes can be managed with nutrition therapy and lifestyle changes alone. If you have prediabetes, you may be at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to other health issues and complications if left untreated. Working with your provider and diabetes care team, you can learn how to improve your health through small, consistent changes.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot make enough of its own insulin. People with Type 1 Diabetes need to inject insulin daily or use a continuous infusion pump to keep their blood sugars within a normal range. Type 1 diabetes treatment includes managing blood sugars with nutrition therapy, lifestyle and medication.
When the body produces insulin, but doesn’t use it properly, the condition is Type 2 diabetes. This is the most common form of diabetes. A variety of nutrition therapies, lifestyle modifications and medications can help manage Type 2 diabetes.
You may be at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes if you:
Many people with diabetes do not know they have the disease. Some Type 2 diabetes symptoms include:
Not everyone who has diabetes has these signs. If you have any of these signs or think you may be at risk, talk with your doctor.
Take these steps to prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes:
Starting at age 18, get your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. It’s important to get your blood pressure checked often, especially if you are over age 40. Talk to a doctor about getting your cholesterol checked. Most men need their cholesterol checked at least once every five years. Women at risk for heart disease need their cholesterol checked every five years.
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