According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. To help you manage or prevent diabetes, Obinna Oriaku, MD, at Crown Clinic PA in Charlotte, the Historic South End of North Carolina, provides comprehensive care so you can regain control of your life. For questions regarding type 1 or type 2 diabetes, call the office today or schedule your appointment online.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body is incapable of controlling its blood glucose levels, also called blood sugar. Since your main source of energy comes from glucose, it’s important to get glucose from food into your cells. Insulin is the hormone that serves as a key to opening your cells, allowing glucose to be used for energy. With diabetes, insulin is nonexistent or malfunctioning, creating elevated blood sugar levels.
In type 1 diabetes, your immune system attacks the cells in your pancreas that create insulin. Without insulin, your blood sugar levels rise to a dangerous place with the potential to cause damage to your nerves, kidneys, or eyes. People who have type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections daily.
People with type 2 diabetes produce their own insulin, yet their body tends to either resist the effects of insulin or not produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. The great thing about type 2 diabetes is that it’s often preventable by eating healthy, exercising daily, and avoiding smoking.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
You may experience the following symptoms with type 2 diabetes:
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop slowly, to the point that you may not even know you have it until you experience noticeable symptoms. One out of every four people with type 2 diabetes doesn’t know they have it, which is why Dr. Oriaku recommends you schedule a consultation at Crown Clinic PA to determine if you are at risk.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is when you have damage to the nerves of your extremities, which can lead to nerve pain, trouble balancing, and poor coordination. Dr. Oriaku performs nerve conduction testing to help diagnose diabetic neuropathy by determining how long it takes nerves to transmit signals.
The American Diabetes Association recommends you get screened for diabetic peripheral neuropathy right when you’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or five years after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
If you believe you’re at risk for developing diabetes or are experiencing diabetic symptoms, call Crown Clinic PA today or schedule your appointment online.
