Diabetes

More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, a chronic condition that results in high blood sugar. There’s no cure for some types of diabetes, such as Type 1 diabetes, but diabetes management can reduce the risk of complications and improve your quality of life. At Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, in Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Poughkeepsie, and Wappinger Falls, New York, the primary care team offers diabetes management for all types of diabetes. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about diabetes. 

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects your body’s ability to control blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes (prediabetes, Type 1, or Type 2), your pancreas doesn’t make adequate insulin or the cells in your body can’t use insulin properly. 

This causes your blood sugar levels to spike, raising your risk of more serious health issues, like heart disease and nerve damage (neuropathy).

Diabetes management involves healthy lifestyle changes, prescription medication, and regular checkups to keep your blood sugar in control and prevent your condition from worsening. If you have prediabetes (the early stage of diabetes), it might be possible to reverse your condition with proper management techniques.

Who can benefit from diabetes management?

Consider diabetes management at Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Feeling more thirsty than usual
• Losing weight without trying
• Urinating often
• Having blurry vision
• Feeling tired and weak
• Having slow-healing sores

As the condition progresses, you might also experience mood changes, like feelings of sadness or irritability.

The team can treat all types of diabetes, including prediabetes, Type 1 diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

To diagnose diabetes, the team reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started and if they’re worse at certain times of day, like several hours after meals or snacks. 

Next, they complete a physical exam and order bloodwork, including a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. An A1C test measures your average blood sugar over the past several months. A reading of 6.7% or higher on two different tests means you have diabetes.

What does diabetes management involve?

There are various things you can do to keep your blood sugar within the healthy range. Usually, the team recommends healthy lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. 

If you have Type 1 diabetes, the team prescribes insulin therapy. Insulin is a prescription medication that prevents your blood sugar from spiking. If you have Type 2 diabetes, they might prescribe a different type of medication that prevents your stomach from breaking down carbohydrates.

You visit the team at Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, every few months during treatment. At each checkup, they monitor your blood sugar and adjust your care plan as necessary.

Call Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetes.