An estimated two million or more people in Texas have diabetes, which is a chronic disease that increases your risk of developing other health problems. New Wave Physicians Group in Spring, Texas, specializes in diagnosing and treating diabetes. The primary care practice has a certified diabetes education center for comprehensive care and support. For expert diabetes care, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use glucose, which is the primary source of energy for all the cells, organs, and tissues in your body.
Glucose comes from the food you eat. After digestion, glucose moves into your bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes, helps transport glucose from your blood into the cells.
People with diabetes have higher than normal blood glucose levels because of problems with their insulin. They either don’t make the hormone, or the hormone is unable to get the glucose into the cell.
Over time, too much glucose in your blood damages your blood vessels and organs, causing health complications (e.g., kidney disease, heart disease, or neuropathy).
People with Type 1 diabetes no longer make insulin and must give themselves insulin injections to manage blood glucose. This type of diabetes is most often diagnosed in children and teens.
With Type 2 diabetes, your insulin is no longer working as well as it should, causing higher than normal blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1 diabetes. Though you can develop Type 2 diabetes at any age, a diagnosis is most common in adulthood.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. This type of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. However, having gestational diabetes puts you at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes isn’t a type of diabetes but a condition that indicates your blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Having prediabetes increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Prediabetes is reversible. Making healthy lifestyle changes, including weight loss, may improve your blood glucose levels and prevent chronic health problems like Type 2 diabetes.
New Wave Physicians Group has a certified diabetes education center to help you manage diabetes. Diabetes treatment may include: