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"You have diabetes..."
Not many years ago, those words from your doctor may have been perceived much as having been told you had cancer. Today, however, like many dreaded diseases of yesteryear, our knowledge, our treatment plans, and most importantly, our outcomes are exponentially better.
Diabetics are now living longer, more productive lives with fewer complications than ever before. A better understanding and new, better treatments are emerging from scientific studies regularly.
Our commitment and desire to offer the very best services in education and treatment for diabetics has drawn us to become the only Certified Diabetic Clinic in this area. Our Marcia Ford APN has made diabetes her sentinel disease in education and treatment and is the coordinator for our diabetic clinic.
We simply cannot emphasis enough the need to get your Diabetes under CONTROL and see your Physician regularly.
Although there has been an explosion of diabetic information and research pulblished on the internet, following are short definitions of the two most common types of diabetes. Also included are several excellent links to provide you the latest information about diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus Type I
This is sometimes referred to as Insulin dependent or juvenile onset diabetes mellitus.
Type I usually occurs in young people under the age of 18 who are neither overweight or obese and results from the body's inability to produce insulin. It develops rapidly causing weight loss, extreme thirst, loss of energy, increased intake of liquids and resulting increased urination. Patients frequently get extremely ill very rapidly, even to the point of hospitalization. Nearly all such patients will require regular insulin injections or an insulin pump.
Diabetes Mellitus Type II
This is sometimes referred to as Non-Insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes mellitus.
Type II usually occurs in older adults over the age of 45 who may be overweight or obese, don't excercise regularly, or who may have a family history of adult onset diabetes and results from insulin resistance or the body's failure to properly use insulin.
Symptoms can include weakness, fatigue, poor wound healing, increased thirst and drinking, weight gain or loss, and vision changes. Type II can develop slowly over many years and may cause damage to your health before the symptoms become obvious. For this reason alone, we strongly encourage regular health exams by your Physician, especially for our patients over 40 years of age. (See our Health Guidelines)
For more information on Diabetes, check these website links:
American Diabetes Association
Diabetes on Encarta
Diabetes page on MSN
SAMA - The Right Choice in HealthCare
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