Diabetes Specialist

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented, but it can’t be cured. Once you have diabetes, you must carefully manage your blood sugar to stay healthy and avoid complications such as neuropathy, heart disease, and vision loss. At ENIHEALTHCARE, Ike Eni, MD, has years of experience helping patients manage diabetes, Dr. Eni has received the Diabetes Excellence Awards. Dr. Eni, Heather Matthews FNP, Krista Bingham FNP creates individualized treatment plans that incorporate lifestyle changes and medications. Whether you need a diabetes risk assessment or ongoing diabetes management, call the office in The Woodlands, Texas, or book an appointment online.

 
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What causes diabetes?

Diabetes develops when your body has a problem producing or using insulin. Insulin is a hormone that maintains normal blood sugar levels by transporting sugar out of your blood and into cells that need it for energy.

There are two primary types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune disorder that damages your pancreas, preventing it from producing insulin. This type of diabetes was once called juvenile diabetes because it most often occurs in children and teens. However, it can also develop in adults.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops in stages. It begins as insulin resistance, a condition in which your body doesn’t respond well to insulin. This causes blood sugar levels to gradually increase.

As your blood sugar rises, you develop prediabetes. At this stage, your blood sugar is too high to be healthy but not high enough to warrant a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

If you get treatment before or during prediabetes, you can prevent Type 2 diabetes. Without treatment, you develop the full-blown disease, which can’t be cured.

Type 2 diabetes takes years to develop, so it’s most often diagnosed in adults. However, it’s increasingly found in children and teens. 

What symptoms develop if I have diabetes?

If you have Type 1 diabetes, the symptoms appear quickly when your pancreas stops producing insulin. By comparison, you may not even notice the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes because they appear gradually over many years.

The symptoms for both types include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst
  • Excessive hunger
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Vision changes
  • Tingling in your feet

High blood sugar damages nerves and blood vessels. This leads to serious complications such as non healing foot ulcers, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and vision loss. 

How is diabetes managed?

Your treatment focuses on keeping your blood sugar within a normal range so you can stay healthy and prevent complications. 

Treatment for diabetes includes:

  • Creating a healthy diet plan
  • Monitoring and counting carbohydrates
  • Developing a regular exercise regimen
  • Losing weight, if needed
  • Taking medications to lower blood sugar
  • Receiving treatment for underlying conditions

Everyone who has diabetes needs to watch the amount and type of carbohydrates they consume each day. Carb counting is essential because carbohydrates are the source of sugar.

To get comprehensive care for diabetes, call ENIHEALTHCARE or book an appointment online today.