Diabetes

You can avoid the long-term health consequences of diabetes with proper medical management. The primary care providers at Open Door Wellness Center in Great Falls, Montana, have the experience and expertise to help you manage your glucose levels and prevent complications associated with this metabolic condition. Call today to get the diabetes care you need or use the online tool to schedule an appointment.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes describes several conditions that affect your metabolism and health. It affects your pancreas’s ability to produce the hormone insulin, which helps you manage blood sugar (glucose) levels in your body. 

Your blood sugar rises in response to the foods you eat. Insulin processes this sugar to help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. When you have diabetes, however, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, or your body doesn’t use insulin correctly. 

This leads to chronically high blood sugar, which can negatively affect many systems in your body and lead to complications like nerve damage, kidney disease, heart disease, and eye problems. 

What are the types of diabetes?

The types of diabetes include:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes usually shows up in adolescence or young adulthood. It is an autoimmune condition in which your body cannot produce insulin. You need to take insulin daily to maintain steady blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes happens when your body processes insulin improperly. It usually develops in middle-aged and older adults and is often your body’s response to poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.  

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes looks like type 2 diabetes but develops during pregnancy. It can affect the health of your baby, too. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after childbirth, but having it indicates you’re at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. 

Prediabetes

When your provider detects higher than normal blood sugar levels, you may be diagnosed with prediabetes. As many as 70% of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes. 

How do you treat diabetes?

The team at Open Door Wellness Center detects diabetes through a check of your blood sugar. You may come to the office initially with symptoms of extreme thirst, hunger, frequent urination, or fatigue. Regular glucose testing is part of your annual exam, too.

Type 2 diabetes is the most commonly diagnosed form of diabetes. The team at Open Door Wellness Center helps you reform your daily habits, including diet and exercise, to promote healthier blood sugar levels. They also support your efforts to lose weight and may provide medications to help you manage your blood sugar. 

If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin daily and follow a healthy diet and exercise plan. 

Without treatment, diabetes can cause serious complications, including stroke, peripheral neuropathy, tooth problems, limb amputation, and liver damage.

Contact Open Door Wellness Center if you need help managing diabetes. Call the office today or use the online tool to schedule your appointment.