Diabetes Q&A

Primary Care Physician & Internist located in Sugarland, TX

Diabetes services offered in Sugarland, TX

Without careful management, diabetes can have devastating effects on your health, including heart attacks, blindness, and limb amputation. If you haven’t had a screening for diabetes recently, visit experienced primary care physician Chinwe Okafor, MD, at Sugarland Primary Care Physicians in Sugarland, Texas. Dr. Okafor provides fast, simple screening for diabetes and outstanding care for patients with the condition. To find out how she can help you, call Sugarland Primary Care Physicians today or book an appointment online.

Diabetes Q&A

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition affecting the function of your pancreas. This organ is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that regulate functions ranging from metabolism to reproduction. With diabetes, the problem is with a hormone your pancreas makes called insulin.

You need insulin to regulate the levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Glucose gives your body and brain vital energy supplies, but too much or too little can have harmful effects on your health. The two primary forms of diabetes are:

Type 1 diabetes

The autoimmune disorder Type 1 diabetes typically starts causing problems from a young age. It occurs when your immune system mistakes the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for harmful invaders like viruses or bacteria. The immune response destroys the cells, so your body can’t make insulin.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes isn’t an immune system problem, so you might still be making insulin in your pancreas. The problem is that your body can’t use it (insulin resistance). Type 2 diabetes mainly affects people who have long-term issues with their weight or eat a high fat, high sugar diet.

How is diabetes treated?

If you have Type 1 diabetes, your treatment involves checking your blood sugar levels regularly and injecting insulin to replace what you can’t make. Insulin pumps, which deliver regulated insulin doses into your body, are a convenient alternative to injections.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, Dr. Okafor might prescribe a drug like metformin that helps you control your blood sugar. Severely affected patients might require insulin. However, you can do a great deal to improve your blood glucose management by making lifestyle changes.

Losing weight, exercising regularly, and swapping the unhealthy fats and carbs for healthy whole grains, fruit, and vegetables are excellent ways to start.

Dr. Okafor can help you achieve lasting weight loss with her weight management program, offer nutritional advice focused on diabetes management, and help you improve your general health by quitting smoking.