Diabetes Specialist

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious, chronic metabolic condition that’s diagnosed when your blood sugar is higher than normal, meaning you aren’t producing enough of the hormone insulin, or your body isn’t using it effectively.

Insulin is produced by the pancreas and helps your body shuttle glucose, or sugar, out of your bloodstream into cells.

When you have chronically high blood sugar, it damages your organs and blood vessels, potentially leading to heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye issues, and foot problems.

Diabetes is more than one condition. It includes:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood. It’s an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes

When you have Type 2 diabetes, you do produce insulin, but not enough to effectively manage your blood glucose levels. Usually, Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in middle- to older-age adults, but it appears more often in younger populations. It’s the most common type, accounting for 90-95% of cases.

How do I know if I have diabetes?

Diabetes is diagnosed through a blood test to measure your glucose levels. You may get this test as part of a routine screening or due to risk factors, age, and family history. Certain symptoms may also indicate you have diabetes and need a glucose test for confirmation. These include:

• Unexpected weight loss
• Increased thirst and hunger
• Tingling in the fingers and toes
• Frequent urination

In the case of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, the disease develops rather slowly, so you may not notice any symptoms.

How is diabetes managed?

At The Alpine Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, PC, diabetics of all types benefit from a personalized treatment approach that combines education, lifestyle design, and technology to manage your symptoms and live a high quality of life. We seek to curate a program of management that is unique to each individual and addresses each person's concerns regarding their diabetes or pre-diabetes, overall health, and well-being.

Sarah has Type 1 diabetes herself and therefore has a wealth of personal experience beyond her formal training that can be used to help all types of people with blood sugar concerns understand more about the day-to-day experiences involved in managing these conditions. 

If you have diabetes or are at risk of developing the disease, contact The Alpine Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, PC. Call for a consultation and evaluation, or book online today.