Diabetes

Up to one in 10 Americans have diabetes, a chronic illness that affects the body’s ability to regulate and use blood sugar. At NextHealth Care in Debary, Florida, experienced family medicine doctors Irelis Rodriguez Castro, MD; Alireza Ebneshahidi, MD; and their team specialize in diagnosing and treating Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Call the office today to schedule a diabetes appointment if you’re concerned about high blood sugar or book your visit online.

Should I be screened for diabetes if I feel healthy?

Yes. NextHealth Care recommends that people of all ages undergo routine blood work to check for diabetes. High blood sugar rarely presents symptoms early on, so you might be at risk and not know it. While there’s no cure for diabetes, early intervention and treatment can prevent it from worsening and help you live a healthier, more active life.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The NextHealth Care team diagnoses and treats all types of diabetes, including:

Prediabetes

Prediabetes causes your blood sugar to remain high for extended periods, but not high enough to be considered diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

This type of diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t make insulin –– a hormone that moves sugar into your cells to provide energy.

Type 2 diabetes

This type of diabetes occurs due to insulin resistance. This means your pancreas produces insulin, but your body doesn’t use it. Sugar builds up in your bloodstream as a result, increasing your risk of more serious health problems.

Gestational diabetes

This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Most women recover after giving birth, but it increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Your NextHealth Care provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical exam. Then, they order several lab tests, including a fasting blood glucose test and a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. 

A fasting glucose test measures your blood sugar after not eating anything for at least eight hours. An A1C test measures your average blood sugar over the last three months. 

How is diabetes treated?

Treatment of diabetes depends on the type of diabetes you have, the severity of your symptoms, and if you have other health problems. Sometimes, healthy lifestyle changes like exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and quitting drinking alcohol are enough to keep your blood sugar in check.

Your provider prescribes insulin therapy if you have Type 1 diabetes. Insulin therapy uses synthetic insulin to keep your blood sugar levels normal. NextHealth Care might also prescribe oral diabetes medications, like Metformin, to improve the way your body uses insulin. 

Daily blood sugar monitoring is key, no matter what type of diabetes you have. It can help determine which treatments work and alert you to problems like hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar). 

Call NextHealth Care today to schedule diabetes treatment or book your appointment online.