Diabetes

Diabetes affects millions of adults worldwide and increases their risk of developing kidney and cardiovascular disease. Absolute Healthcare in Spring Hill, Port Richey, and Tampa, Florida, provides preventive health care and diabetes management to ensure your long-term health and wellness. Call the nearest office or book an in-person or telehealth consultation online today.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects your body’s glucose (blood sugar). Your pancreas makes the hormone insulin to transport glucose from your bloodstream into cells to be used for energy. 

When you have diabetes, your body is unable to produce sufficient insulin to keep its processes working. Without the right amount of insulin, it can damage your blood vessels, nerves, and organs. 

Absolute Healthcare offers preventive health care as well as diabetes management to help you avoid serious health outcomes. 

What are the different types of diabetes?

There are different types of diabetes that your provider may diagnose you with: 

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is when you have higher than normal blood glucose levels but they haven’t reached the level to be classified as diabetes. 

However, prediabetes is a precursor for Type 2 diabetes. This early stage of diabetes is often reversible with healthy lifestyle modifications. 

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that typically develops during childhood years. 

When you have Type 1 diabetes, your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. To manage your blood glucose levels, you’ll need regular insulin injections. 

Type 2 diabetes

While anyone can develop Type 2 diabetes, it often affects older adults. With this type of diabetes, your pancreas has either stopped producing insulin or can’t produce enough. 

For some people, Type 2 diabetes may be manageable with lifestyle changes, but many require medications.

Gestational diabetes 

Pregnant women can develop a special form of diabetes called gestational diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes have blood glucose levels that are too high as a result of a lack of insulin production. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after giving birth, but about half of women develop Type 2 diabetes. 

How is diabetes treated?

Absolute Healthcare takes a whole-person approach to care, tailoring your diabetes management plan to your health condition and needs. 

Diabetes treatment depends on the specific type of diabetes you have, your blood glucose levels, and other health conditions.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Insulin injections
• Prescription medications (Metformin) 
• Remote patient monitoring with blood glucose devices
• Nutritional counseling 
• Medical weight loss 
• Semaglutide injections 
• Lifestyle modifications

Absolute Healthcare provides the guidance and caring support you need to live an active, fulfilling life even if you have diabetes.

To enroll in diabetes management, call the nearest Absolute Healthcare office or book an in-person or telehealth consultation online today.