Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream.
When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Taking medicine as needed, getting diabetes self-management education and support, and keeping health care appointments can also reduce the impact of diabetes on your life.
Types of Diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes :
- Type 1
- Type 2
- Gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that stops your body from making insulin. Approximately 5-10% of the people who have diabetes have type
1. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often develop quickly. It’s usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more in children, teens, and young adults). You may not notice any symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested if you’re at risk.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health problems. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born but increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen, and more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life too.
Our Family Doctor's Specialties
We prioritize your health needs and aim to be your valued health partner.
Our doctors of general medicine, or internists, focus on ensuring that you get the right diagnosis, and also work towards the best prevention and treatment procedures.
Dedicated to the study and care of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, our team of gastroenterologists will help you prevent and treat any disorder affecting your digestive organs.
Offering comprehensive evaluation, management, and treatment, our team of Gynaecologists also work towards primary prevention to prevent Gynaecological problems before they arise.
Our panel of expert cardiologists offer comprehensive cardiac care and non-invasive services, as well as help you work towards prevention, rather than just focus on a cure.
Offering comprehensive diagnostic services and treatment, our team of orthopaedics will help you tackle any issue related to the musculoskeletal system, including your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
With state-of-the-art medical services for children, our Paediatricians help you take care of your newborn baby from birth to the age of sixteen years.
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