When you have diabetes, keeping it under control is crucial. Otherwise, you’re at risk of developing heart problems, kidney problems, nerve damage, and other health issues. At Family Medicine Austin, our practitioners provide men and women in Austin, Texas, with the education they need to manage blood sugar levels on a regular basis and reduce the risk of health complications.
What are the Warning Signs of Diabetes?
Catching diabetes early gives you a better chance of avoiding complications. What is the best way to know if you have this disease? Watch for common symptoms of diabetes and make an appointment for testing if you have any.
You might have diabetes if you’re thirstier than usual and need to use the bathroom more often to urinate. If you feel hungrier than usual or if you lose weight without trying to, you might have type 2 diabetes. Other common signs you might experience include:
- Persistent fatigue
- Feeling irritable
- Having blurry vision
What Causes Diabetes?
When you have type 2 diabetes, which is more common than type 1 diabetes, it means that there’s a problem with the way your body handles insulin. Insulin typically moves glucose, or sugar, into your cells for energy. With type 2 diabetes, your cells resist this process, which causes glucose to build up in your bloodstream. Having increased levels of glucose in your blood can lead to a wide range of health issues that affect your organs, nerves, and other parts of your body.
Who’s at Risk of Developing Diabetes?
Anyone can get type 2 diabetes, but some patients have a higher risk of it than others. If you’re overweight or spend most of your time sitting rather than being active, you have a greater risk of diabetes. Your risk is also higher if diabetes runs in your family or if you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Other risk factors include having gestational diabetes during pregnancy, being older, and having polycystic ovary syndrome.
Our highly trained medical staff might recommend having diabetes testing done if you have one or more of these risk factors.
How can you Manage Diabetic Symptoms?
If you have high blood sugar levels, taking insulin injections helps you lower them. Whether or not you need them and how often you need them depends on how well you’re managing diabetes through other means, such as diet and exercise.
You can maintain healthy blood sugar levels by getting regular physical activity and cutting back on processed foods and sugary foods while also eating more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. If you need help managing your conditions, we will happily provide you with education on diabetes so you can manage it efficiently.
Diabetes Testing and Symptom Management in Austin, Texas!
If you need diabetes testing or help managing your glucose levels, please contact Family Medicine Austin for an appointment.
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