Diabetes

Managing diabetes can prove challenging without guidance and support from your health care team. At My True Image in Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona, Robin F. MacDougall, DO, helps you prevent and manage diabetes through nutritional counseling, blood sugar monitoring, and lifestyle changes. Call My True Image today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that interferes with your body’s ability to process sugar. A hormone called insulin helps your cells store glucose (sugar) for energy. When you have diabetes, your pancreas either produces too little insulin or none at all. This lack of insulin causes your blood to retain too much sugar.

High blood sugar levels can weaken your blood vessels. Nerve damage, kidney problems, and slow-healing wounds can develop when sugar accumulates in your blood.

In many cases, diabetes is preventable and manageable with proper care. The team at My True Images provides comprehensive care for diabetes to preserve your health.

Are there different types of diabetes?

The four most common types of diabetes are:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. Your body doesn’t create insulin, so you must take it through medication.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes usually develops during middle age and largely depends on diet and lifestyle factors. Obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise are common causes.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are consistently high throughout pregnancy. While the condition usually resolves after childbirth, it raises your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes

If your blood sugar levels are high, though not high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis, you may have prediabetes. This condition is usually reversible with proper management.

The team at My True Image performs blood sugar testing to determine whether you’re at risk of diabetes.

What are the signs of diabetes?

Diabetes affects everyone differently, but common signs include:

• Fatigue
• Tingling and numbness in your arms or legs
• Slow-healing wounds
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst and hunger
• Unintended weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Dry skin

Maintaining proper skin health is essential when you have diabetes, as nerve damage and slow-healing wounds can increase your risk of infection.

What are the treatments for diabetes?

The team at My True Image works with you to manage your blood sugar levels and prevent complications from diabetes. Your treatment plan may include:

• Nutritional counseling
• Weight-loss medications
• Blood sugar monitoring
• Prescription medication
• Supplements

Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption also help manage the symptoms of diabetes.

Call My True Image today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetes.