Diabetes and prediabetes affect more than 100 million adults in the United States, increasing their risk for long-term health complications. At Dr. Allen Wellness & Medical Center in Henderson, Nevada, Evan Allen, MD, is highly experienced in diagnosing and managing diabetes through insulin therapy, dietary counseling, and lifestyle changes. If you’re in the Greater Las Vegas area and need help managing your diabetes, rely on Dr. Allen’s expertise. You can schedule a diabetes consultation by calling the office nearest you or by booking an appointment online today.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that involves dysfunction in the way your body processes the sugar it gets from your diet. A healthy body makes the insulin hormone that converts dietary sugars in your blood into the energy you need to function. When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t properly process this sugar, so your risk increases for long-term health complications.
Dr. Allen treats and helps you manage the three types of diabetes, including:
In Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t make the insulin necessary to convert sugar to energy due to dysfunction in the pancreas, which produces insulin. As a result, your blood sugar levels remain too high.
In Type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or doesn’t use the insulin it does make, to properly control your blood sugar levels.
Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels remain high, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. If left untreated, prediabetes puts you at increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
You may be at risk for Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes due to lifestyle choices, such as poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms of diabetes vary from person to person, with many people having no symptoms in the earliest stages. In the later stages of the disease, you may experience symptoms like:
As these symptoms can relate to other underlying health issues, it’s important to schedule a diabetes screening with Dr. Allen as soon as possible.
A simple blood test can identify diabetes. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need daily insulin to keep your blood sugars well-controlled. You also need to regularly check your blood sugar levels at home.
Initial treatment for Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes may involve lifestyle modifications and changes to your diet to naturally lower and control your blood sugar levels. Changes may include eating fresh foods and eliminating sugary and processed foods from your diet. You also need to increase your physical fitness levels.
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control Type 2 diabetes, Dr. Allen can provide guidance for insulin use and at-home blood sugar testing.
If you need help controlling diabetes or need blood testing to check for diabetes, schedule an appointment now by calling the office or by requesting an appointment online.
