Diabetes Care

Diabetes Care services offered in Alpharetta, GA

Diabetes care helps patients with diabetes keep track of their health and treat their disease effectively. At Alpha Medical Clinic, board-certified internal medicine physicians Dhiraj Patel, MD, and Neil Patel, MD, have more than five decades of collective experience with customized diabetes care. Call the Alpharetta, Georgia, office or schedule your appointment online today.

What is diabetes care?

Diabetes care covers medical management of diabetes, a disease that can cause devastating nerve, vascular, and organ damage if untreated. Two types include:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes develops if the pancreas doesn’t create insulin. Insulin is a hormone that unlocks your cells so sugar can be absorbed and used for energy. Without it, sugar builds up to dangerous levels in your blood.

This type of diabetes is commonly diagnosed at age 13-14, but many adults are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes today. Type 1 diabetes occurs due to an autoimmune reaction in which your body destroys its own healthy cells — in this case, part of the pancreas.

This autoimmune response may be caused partially by genetics, and certain environment-based triggers may contribute. Diet and lifestyle habits aren’t a contributing factor.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes happens when you make insulin but you don’t use it correctly, leading to high blood sugar. Later on, the pancreas may not make any insulin at all (similar to Type 1 diabetes).

Type 2 diabetes accounts for up to 95% of diabetes cases today. It develops most often in patients 45 and older, but can appear anytime.

Your diet and lifestyle have a direct impact on your health in many ways, and Type 2 diabetes is a prime example. The main risk factors include age over 45, carrying excess weight, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity.

Both types of diabetes require diabetes care to keep you healthy.

What can I expect from diabetes care?

Diabetes care varies with the type of diabetes and stage of your disease. With Type 1 diabetes, you must use insulin (injections or pump) daily.

With Type 2 diabetes, treatment approaches are more varied. The main focus is managing the controllable factors that led to the disease through weight loss management, exercise, and nutritional guidance.

You may need medication, like oral metformin. In late-stage diabetes, you could need insulin daily.

When do I need diabetes care?

Diabetes care starts at the time of diagnosis. The team recommends a treatment plan that includes monitoring your blood sugar at home along with routine appointments for lab testing in the office. Keeping up with your diabetes care appointments can save your life because it allows you to respond quickly to problems.

To receive expert diabetes care, call Alpha Medical Clinic or schedule an appointment online today.