Diabetes

Diabetes is a potentially life-threatening health condition that affects more than 30 million Americans and, without expert management, can lead to early mortality. At Wellsprings Natural Healthcare in Belcourt, North Dakota, Cheryll Simmons, FNP-BC, MSN, MPH, has considerable expertise in helping patients manage their diabetes. With her expert assistance, you can live a full, rewarding life despite having diabetes. Call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a problem related to your body’s production and usage of insulin.

Insulin is a hormone produced in your pancreas that is critical to the efficient absorption and storage of sugar in the blood.

If you have too little insulin or you’ve become insulin resistant, your body can’t manage your blood sugars as it should, leading to a dangerous buildup of sugar that has multiple consequences for your health.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune problem whereby your immune system attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes typically develops in children and young people and needs lifelong management. There’s no way to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes.

The DOT physical is a comprehensive examination of your health that reviews your medical history and current fitness to ensure you’re healthy enough to be driving for a living. At Wellsprings Natural Healthcare, Cheryll can also act as a medical examiner for DOT physicals if you need to undergo a DOT physical.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is far more widespread than type 1, and levels are increasing as obesity issues continue to rise. If you have type 2 diabetes, it means that either your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin or your body can’t use what it’s making. Type 2 diabetes is usually brought on by an unhealthy lifestyle, which means, in many cases, it is preventable.

Common risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes include:

• Having excess body fat
• Being a smoker
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• Insufficient exercise
• High fat, high sugar diet

You’re more likely to develop diabetes if other family members have the condition, but you can still take steps to avoid diabetes by adopting healthy lifestyle choices.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes takes place gradually, so at first, you won’t be aware that anything’s wrong. Eventually, as the blood sugars in your system build up, you’ll start to feel tired all the time and notice signs that all is not well, such as having a constant thirst, dry or itchy skin, and blurred vision.

Because the symptoms are slow to manifest and can be vague in the early stages, it’s sensible to have a regular screening test at Wellsprings Natural Healthcare.

A simple blood test called the A1C check can detect diabetes by measuring how much glucose is attached to the hemoglobin in your blood.

Poor management of type 2 diabetes can cause serious damage to your health and may also lead to complications that result in kidney disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

What treatments are available for type 2 diabetes?

Lifestyle changes are essential to managing diabetes successfully. Cheryll can help you by creating a personalized diet and weight loss program and providing you with the information you need to make healthier lifestyle choices.

She can also prescribe and manage your medication and help you monitor your blood glucose levels.

Take action now to prevent diabetes from progressing by arranging a screening test. Call Wellsprings Natural Healthcare to schedule an appointment or request one online today.