Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which your body has issues making or effectively using insulin, the hormone that moves sugar from your blood into your cells. If untreated, diabetes results in sugar building up in your bloodstream. This can eventually damage your heart, eyes, kidneys and blood vessels.

There are four types of diabetes:

Pre-diabetes—With pre-diabetes, the body starts to have trouble producing enough insulin all the time.

Type 1 diabetes—With Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce any insulin because the beta cells of the pancreas have been destroyed. This may be diagnosed at any age.

Type 2 diabetes—In Type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin that it does produce, resulting in too much blood sugar. This is the most common type of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes—Gestational diabetes is when the body is not able to make enough insulin to cover the increased levels required during pregnancy. When pregnancies result in gestational diabetes, it usually disappears after delivery.

The signs of diabetes vary from person to person, but typical symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Extreme hunger
• Excessive thirst
• Feeling very tired most of the time
• Frequent urination
• Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
• Sores or wounds that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Unexplained weight loss
• Very dry skin

Talk to your doctor about whether or not you have a higher risk of developing diabetes, but some factors that increase your risk include:

• Being of African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander or Native American descent
• Being or having been a smoker
• Being overweight
• Having a family history of diabetes
• Having delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth
• Not getting physical activity on a regular basis

Taking control of diabetes has many benefits. You can feel better, have more energy and prevent the symptoms of high blood sugar. Managing your diabetes can also lower your chances of developing complications, such as heart disease or stroke, later in life.

We help you with the following factors, which are part of a healthy diabetes management system:

• Blood sugar—Monitoring your blood sugar regularly (as directed by your doctor or educator) can help you determine if your current treatments are working properly. It can also help you learn what most affects your blood sugar as well as how to prevent any severe highs or lows in your blood sugar.
• Diet and nutrition—Eating a balanced diet is healthy for everyone but is especially important for people with diabetes. Controlling your portions will also help keep your blood sugars in your target ranges.
• Doctor and educator appointments—Your doctor will want you to visit every three to six months to make sure you're staying healthy and avoiding complications. Scheduling visits with a diabetes educator can also give you more detailed, valuable education and ideas. You may also want or need to see an endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) for more specialized treatment.
• Exercise—Activity can help keep your blood sugars down, help you lose or maintain weight and help boost your health in other ways. We can help you explore what exercise regimen is best for you.
• Medication—You may need pills, injections or both to keep your blood sugars under control. Make sure you are careful to take them consistently, as directed.

Our diabetes education services are accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the Utah Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. As part of those services, we provide diabetes self-management that includes:

• Community support
• Diabetes self-management class
• Free community lectures
• Individual consultations
• Outpatient education