Diabetes

If your body doesn’t effectively manage blood sugar because of diabetes, you’re at risk of organ damage and other complications. Fortunately, at Golden Health in Modesto, California, compassionate internal medicine physician David Chen, MD, helps you prevent or properly manage diabetes to live your healthiest life. Schedule an in-person or telemedicine evaluation by phone today to achieve better health.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects blood sugar control, or the amount of sugar present in your bloodstream. When not managed, diabetes can lead to significant health problems. It’s caused by genetic factors, lifestyle habits, and combinations of factors. Early detection and treatment is the best way to avoid complications.

What are the different types of diabetes?

While all forms of diabetes affect blood sugar, they vary slightly from each other. Type 2 diabetes often results because of being overweight over age 40. It develops when your body doesn’t effectively utilize insulin (a hormone that moves sugar from the blood into body tissues).

Your body produces too little insulin if you have Type 1 diabetes. Gestational diabetes appears in some women during pregnancy, and prediabetes is a condition that develops before diabetes. 

A family history of diabetes is a risk factor for Type 1 diabetes, while aging, carrying excess weight, and unhealthy lifestyle habits appear to increase the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. 

What are the symptoms associated with diabetes?

The hallmark symptoms of diabetes are:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurry vision
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Slow-healing sores
• Mood changes
• Irritability
• Frequent infections

Diabetes can cause foot issues, nerve problems, eye damage, heart and kidney issues, and other health concerns when not addressed. It can even lead to dementia, depression, and other mental health challenges.

How does a provider help me manage diabetes?

Dr. Chen discusses your lifestyle, medications, medical history, and symptoms. He checks your vital signs, weighs you, completes a physical exam, and orders blood work to evaluate your blood sugar levels.

He then personalizes a diabetes treatment plan. Properly managing diabetes often consists of adopting healthy lifestyle habits, taking oral medications, or using insulin injections or an insulin pump.

Dr. Chen explains ways to lose weight if you’re overweight or obese, get more exercise, and eat nutritious foods that help keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. Follow up with him as often as needed and call the Golden Health office any time with questions. 

Schedule a diabetes evaluation at Golden Health by phone or online today.